'Even as I am sceptical of it, I find poet Gregory O'Brien's image of self-assured young New Zealand poets forging into the future, oblivious to versions of James K. Baxter reflected in mirrors on their backs, an appealing conceit. While I agree with O'Brien that reflections and distortions of Baxter can be found in the work of
many late-twentieth-century New Zealand poets, I would argue that these poets do dwell on the past. ...'