'In his debut poetry collection, Flat Exit, Broede Carmody writes with surety and a richness of feeling. His purpose is to establish “a way of seeing” — he quotes his favourite poet, Gwen Harwood, in his Preface — and he stakes his claim with the words: “Mine, as it’s been so far” (xi). “So far” is a lifetime measured out in words. Short words for a young life: Carmody is in his mid-twenties. It seems that Carmody’s youth gives him a fresher voice, an edgier perspective, than other more established poets while his wide-reading in literature is evident in the polyphony of influences audible behind his warmly-inflected poetic voice.' (Introduction)