DNA
When our shape shifts,
our limbs lengthen -
how do our bodies
know what to do?
Hair growing
here and there,
brown eyes
or blue?
It’s because
there’s a blueprint
inside of you.
So while you
might have questions
all your cells
have the answers,
that’s how your body
knows what to do,
so it can grow
no body else
but a YOU!
our limbs lengthen -
how do our bodies
know what to do?
Hair growing
here and there,
brown eyes
or blue?
It’s because
there’s a blueprint
inside of you.
So while you
might have questions
all your cells
have the answers,
that’s how your body
knows what to do,
so it can grow
no body else
but a YOU!
This poem is copyright (©) Melinda Szymanik 2026
About the Writer
Melinda Szymanik
Melinda is an award-winning New Zealand author of picture books, short stories and novels for children and young adults. Notable titles include The Were-Nana (Scholastic, 2008) winner of Children’s Choice at the 2009 NZ Post Children’s Book Awards, A Winter’s Day in 1939 (Scholastic, 2013) winner of Librarian’s Choice at the 2014 LIANZA Awards, and Fuzzy Doodle (Scholastic, 2016) a 2017 White Raven selection. She also writes poetry for adults and children, and regularly teaches creative writing.
