The Ringmaster's Apprentice

Oz Hardwick's fifth collection of poetry begins with the poet on a 'bland train', staring at a fox emerging from the railside bush. The narrator declares that between himself, trapped in a mundane scene of everyday reality, and the fox, immersed in nature, mystery and myth, 'hangs more poetry than I will ever write.' He then sets out to write it anyway, to fill that gap; to explore the space between the familiar and domestic, the extraordinary and exotic. In bringing these seemingly irreconcilable worlds together, in a circus of language, ideas, music and images, Hardwick has created a singular literary experience that can be devoured quickly, but will stay with readers for a long time afterwards.