About

At the centre of Lunchbox Poetry is something simple: presence. We are a small, heart-led team that believes the quietest gestures can hold the greatest meaning. This book began with a father, Jay McElroy, writing poems for his young daughters, daily, privately, and without ever imagining they’d one day be shared beyond the lunch table. But love, when steady and sincere, finds its way outward.

Jay didn’t write to the world; he wrote to his two young daughters. In those short verses were reminders to smile, be kind, try again, and never feel alone. Over time, those notes became a ritual—one that created laughter, reflection, and connection. What began as a personal act of love has now become a book for every parent, teacher, and caregiver who wonders if small things still matter. They do!

Our goal isn’t to impress. It’s to honour that quiet kind of love—the one that fits in a lunchbox, waits in a backpack, and shows up every single day. We believe in words written by hand, in the early morning quiet. We believe in routines that become memories. And we believe that when love is spoken daily, even softly, it leaves a lasting mark.

These poems were never meant to be published. They were meant to be personal. But over time, their quiet impact became undeniable. Each one held a moment—a small window into a father’s heart, written without an audience, only intention. What started as a simple routine became something his daughter would remember, even years later. That’s the power of showing up in small, steady ways. The words may have been short but the meaning stayed.

This isn’t just poetry—it’s presence on paper. A reminder that the words we send stay longer than we know.