Tapula: A Family Legacy Poem by Ronni ManoaHofbauer

From ancient isles where chiefs held court,
In Samoa's peaks and Tuvalu's shores,
The Tapula name carried weight and worth,
Through sacred customs, ancient lores.

High chiefs who led with wisdom deep,
Their blood now flows through scattered seeds,
Across vast oceans we now leap,
Yet bound by love that distance heeds.

Some dwell where southern stars still shine,
While others chase the northern lights,
But when we meet, our hearts align,
Like constellations in the night.

Through modern cities, foreign lands,
Our roots grow deeper year by year,
The fa'aaloalo, alofa in our hands,
Respect and honor we hold dear.

When families gather, stories flow
Like gentle waves on island shores,
The love our elders helped to sow
Now blooms on distant corridors.

Though seas divide our daily lives,
Our hearts beat to the same old drum,
The spirit of our chiefs survives
In every daughter, every son.

Tapula blood runs proud and true,
From ancient times to present day,
In everything we say and do,
Our legacy lights up the way.