Marty Smith spent lockdown caring for her closest friend, Paul Davis, who was building the last house of his life when the virus stole his story. Her lockdown essay tells it for him. Paul invited Flo into his end-of-life to take the photos that run alongside.  

Paul was very proud of naming Cubic: his dog was prisoner number 27 on Death Row at the pound; 27 was the cell number of the prisoner in The Green Mile; three cubed is 27.

Jordon Davis is an architect, like his dad. Lloyd Davis is an academic, scientist, author and filmmaker. Steve Davis is an auctioneer, bloodstock agent and TV presenter. Florence Charvin is a Napier photographer.

Marty Smith’s Horse with hat won the Jesse Mackay award for Best First Book of Poetry and was a finalist in the Poetry Award in the 2014 NZ Post Book Awards.