Our students at Puketai Residence were tasked with creating some poems following a set format, encouraged to express what they enjoyed, hated, learned, missed, and so on.

The results are wonderful. Some are immediately relatable to everyone, some are joyful, and some are representative of our rangatahi’s unique situation of being away from family during an already difficult time.

Here are a few selections:

[I] did not miss having busy days

It was difficult not to be sad when my family didn’t answer my calls

I missed my mum

When this is over I will never take for granted how people feel

I learnt that I can be patient

You can read all the poems here: COVID19-poems