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Sammy Hickson was the winner of the best lyric poem in the NZ Post National Secondary Schools poetry awards in 2009.
The Middleton Grange student won the prize in the first year that the competition was opened up to Year 11 classes. Her poem has been set to music by Jason Kerrison of Op Shop with Sammy playing flute and singing backing vocals. Get the MP3.
1.
You think you’re standing on your head
Because everything is upside-down
Lights are flashing, always red
Can’t lift your ugly frown
Chorus
You’re trying to set a bar you can’t limbo
Hurdles that you can’t jump
Run a race you can’t finish
You’ve been worn down like a rock by the tide
2.
You’re walking in the circle of confusion
Every step is one closer to where you started
You take a step away and it follows you
Its voice echoes in your steps
Chorus
There’s no use being on the beach at sundown
If you can’t see the sunset
There’s no use being under water
If you’re drowning
3.
You’re trapped by a box
You think you can’t escape
But the secret is the door’s wide open
You just can’t see it
August 2009