Comparison between these anthologies is interesting. As the poems (6,000 for Mattara, 3,000 for the Australian), were the response to a general invitation, can we reasonably speculate that here we have a picture of what Australian middle of the spectrum poetry is like – or what poets in that range see as approved? The ends of the spectrum remain unrepresented.

Filtered through the judges’ taste we have a more similar product than I would have expected. Few of the lively young are there, none of even the wittiest of performance poetry, – which can hold up on the page – and some poets of course don’t compete in this sort of contest. There’s too much likeness.