Producer and book man Robert Kelly - went through the hundreds of entries with the editor of the 2020 Poetry New Zealand Yearbook, Jo Emeney and together they whittled them down to a shortlist and our winners.
Winning Poem: How to fish - Kate Waterhouse
everything will be still
take a stick and mark the sand where the sea stops
dig and dig where only your fingers can see
think of fat fritters, pied stilts, a train of godwits
if the tide is as high as the stick, think of flounder
this is what he said
2nd place: 'The Music Lesson' Sydney Manowitz,
"Train your fourth finger to reach high"
My violin teacher said.
But still I only wanted to play music -
Not stick with this technique rubbish.
I was 5 then.
Now, if only I can remember, "Reach High"
3rd place: Joseph Jowitt
These knees still
stick, a bit.
A train of ants march a high tattoo across the ceiling
but all I hear is the sound of Doug
breathing softly.
I’d can this feeling if I could.
