AustLit

'Many poets, particularly at the emerging stage, focus intently on finding their ‘voice’. This ‘voice’ represents where they see themselves occupying unique space within the writing firmament; determining a style that perfectly fits the writer’s worldview and the summation of what they consider great writing of those who have preceded them. In crude terms, I suppose ‘product differentiation’ is the goal.' (Introduction)          

'These voices that diarise from the crypts of the past have names already writ but identities riddled with doubt. For every one rendition of St Thomas there is three and for every St John there is two only to be mirrored and augmented by artistic interpretations through the ages. Opinion, fact, testimony: all jostle for dominance or collapse absentmindedly into song. There are “Postscripts” to the act of sermonising and quarrels over who said what and who is the more worthy of “fame”. Then along come the sweeping robes of others over the dust of roads well-travelled. A good Samaritan here, a “restful” bat there, a “brolga” morphed in legend to the form of a “young girl who gambolled like an aurora and dreamed/ herself wings in the fledging dawn”. A world of textbooks, memories and companionship you open up in book form to understand and close to contemplate.' (Introduction)