John Clarke was one of Australia's most beloved satirists. This short volume imagines a host of Australian poets that could have been, using parodies of famous poets from abroad. There's Thomas 'The Tank' Hardy, Very Manly Hopkins, Rabbi Burns, R.A.C.V Milne (you have to be Australian to get that joke), b.b. hummings, Nob Dylan, and many more.

It's thoroughly silly, rather in the style of those mid-20th century revues and periodicals that were humorous more for the shared laughs in the moment than for any kind of lasting impact (and some of the 'contemporary' poetic parodies will fade faster than the classic ones). Still, it's a reminder of a unique comic voice - and a neat hat-tip to intellectual Australia's conflicted relationship with our mother culture . ( )

In The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse John Clarke, one of the great satirists, turns his attention to poetry and reveals how nearly all of the world's great poets were really Australian. He presents selections from the works of literary legends such as Rabbi Burns, Very Manly Hopkins, b.b. hummings and Carol Lewis (renowned author of Alison Wonderland and Who are You Looking At?).

The book has been through a few editions from 1989 to 2003, so some of the target's of Clarke's satire may be a bit obscure to a contemporary audience, and might make little sense to a audience not au fait with Australian politics and sport. I'm not a huge poetry reader but recognised enough of the references to get a lot of belly laughs; those more familiar with the poetry that Clarke is lampooning will get a lot more out of it. ( )