I am going to Northland College, situated in Kaikohe. I am proud of the school because here Maori culture is stilt going strong, helping the Maoris to keep their customs and not lose them. Hemi Epiha Mr J. Bonnevie, now headmaster of Kaitaia Primary School, has sent us these poems written by children at Nuhaka Primary School during the time he was headmaster there. We hope to have more poems in the next issue. From the Beach Luxury waves, blue, green In from the endless ocean Rumbles, tumbles over and down Like hay in a stack Rises, splashes, ripples like river Ripples joined together With the snow Melting on top Rangi, 12 Driftwood Twisted, twirled Carved beaten, Unknown creeper. Twisting up a tree Work of art By a master craftsman. Errolene, 12 Speech Making Throat gone dry, Lips won't move Pounding heart. Blank mind My knees trembling My blood freezing Clattering teeth Twitching fingers. Parched mouth. Sweating body Oh, what a relief! Finished! Bells ring aloud in my ears. Patty, 11 Catching Goats Over hills Through scrub Catching goats Oh! What fun Tripping over, Getting scratched, All surrounded, Now for one! Rachael, 12 Winter Morning Lonely grass shivering in crispy frost Twisting flowers shaking Old tree with holey leaves Moaning, grumbling to itself Soft breeze sniffling and blowing And the blazing sun warming up. Watene, 10 Clay Twisted and pulled, slapped down flat. A cool shower of water runs over my rough coat. Rough, clumsy hands run over my body Leaving an unpleasant trail behind. Sticky and slimy, all muddy brown Sliced and quartered with knives and nylon Made into shapes, I don't know But Oh! What a job he has done Bringing me back to life again. June, 12 Volleyball Burning feet Watery mouth Serve the ball Hit it over Back it comes Back it goes Faces red Slippery hand Hot concrete What a game! Pushing punching Over the net Forward, back, Ah! dropped it. Ruth, 11