From 2004- 2019, Sir Timoti Karetu, Dr Wharehuia Milroy and Sir Pou Temara selected cohorts of fluent speakers from around the motu to take part in Te Panekiretanga o te Reo - an intensive series of wananga delivered through Te Wananga o Aotearoa, with excellence in language and cultural practices at its heart. In this volume a group of Ika a Whiro wahine - female graduates of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo - rise to the challenge of breathing te reo Maori into a selection of key poems by Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou (1928- 2014) was an iconic American author, poet and civil-rights activist known for her profound literary contributions and influential advocacy. As well as her acclaimed autobiographies, she wrote several volumes of poetry including On the Pulse of the Morning for the inauguration of President Clinton. She held a life-time appointment as Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Her enduring legacy continues to inspire generations, reflecting her commitment to social justice, artistic expression and the power of the human spirit.