Mophead Tu: The Queen’s Poem
Selina Tusitala Marsh
Auckland University Press
pub. 2021

19 March, 2021

Mophead Tu: The Queen’s Poem is a graphic book by Selina Tusitala Marsh. It was recommended to me by our librarian at Aotea College. I started off reading the “Unity” poem at the front of the book; the poem speaks so much sense about our everyday life and the opposite sides of us as well as how connected we all are. Unity means togetherness; unity means one-ness.

Selina Tusitala Marsh was invited and given the opportunity to write and perform for the Queen as she was receiving an award as Commonwealth Poet. It was a hard time for her, always being torn in the middle of her Pacific Island heritage and New Zealand as a sovereign state headed by the Royal family.

She wanted to be both; represent both parts of her heritage, but how was she to do that? Having self-doubt and knowing that her people were once put down by the Queen, Tusitala Marsh was torn, trying to find a way to stand by her people and receive the award she was given.

I enjoyed the way this was shown in pictures and poems. This book is good for teenagers, and those who feel as if they have to pick between people and things. I would recommend this book to those who have a passion for debating, writing and reading and anyone that is from mixed cultures.

– Lusa Suapese is 16 years old and lives in Porirua