My lifelong interest in the written word has stemmed from supportive whānau (family) and teacher role-models who had faith in my ability and creativity. Poetry is one of my favourite genres with most verse being written as waiata or song. 

Poupou 
We always called my maternal grandfather Poupou from a very young age and it wasn’t until recently that I realised the significance of our pet name for him and how he held up to his name as the support and provider for all the family. This poem gives some glimpses of our times together