My first published poem, ‘Mother Russia’, appeared in Typecast, a short-lived journal issued by the proprietors of the Reasonably Good Cafe in Chippendale, Sydney, in 1991. Since then, my poems have appeared in a wide variety of print and online journals, both in Australia and internationally. I’ve also had the good fortune to have a number of poems in anthologies, including one featuring a poem under my name which I didn’t write. Some of the links on this page go to archived versions of online journals that are no longer live.

Treaty Man

Southerly, vol. 81, no. 1 (forthcoming, 2026).

(OCCULUS) RIFTS

First published in Cordite Poetry Review, No. 115 (2025), <http://cordite.org.au/poetry/space/occulus-rifts/>. Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

Milko

Anthologised in K. Dawes (ed.), Selections from the Digital Schooner Global Fusion Series, Prairie Schooner, Vol. 98/2 (University of Nebraska: Lincoln, 2025).

O’Dowd seeks Whitman

Anthologised in J. Kinsella (ed.), The Turnrow Anthology of Contemporary Australian Poetry (Turnrow Books: Monroe, LA, 2014). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013). First published in Going Down Swinging, no. 27 (2008).

1001 Nights

Anthologised in J. Kinsella (ed.), The Turnrow Anthology of Contemporary Australian Poetry (Turnrow Books: Monroe, LA, 2014). Collected in We Will Disappear (papertiger media, 2007). First published in Overland, no. 183 (2006).

she finds her speed

Anthologised in J. Kinsella (ed.), The Turnrow Anthology of Contemporary Australian Poetry (Turnrow Books: Monroe, LA, 2014). Collected in We Will Disappear (papertiger media, 2007). First published in The Age, 1 May 2004.

drift: a way

First published in Continent, vol. 3, no. 2 (2013), <https://continentcontinent.cc/archives/issues/issue-3-2-2013/drift-a-way>. Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

i remember 제주도

First published in Peril, no. 14 (2012), <http://peril.com.au/back-editions/edition14/i-remember-%EC%A0%9C%EC%A3%BC%EB%8F%84/>. Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

Clouds Afternoon Jazz Sprinkles

First published in the Red Room Company’s ‘The Disappearing’ Project (2012), <http://redroomcompany.org/poem/david-prater/clouds-afternoon-jazz-sprinkles/>. Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

Wireless

First published in Overland, no. 207 (2012). Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

neenish tart

First published as part of the Booranga Writers Centre (Wagga Wagga) Bus Shelter Poetry Project (2012). Republished in FourW, no. 24 (2013).

Algae

Featured in Jacket 2 (USA) (2012), <http://jacket2.org/poems/poems-david-prater>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013). First published in Southerly, vol. 69, no. 3 (2010).

TL;DR

Featured in Jacket 2 (USA) (2012), <http://jacket2.org/poems/poems-david-prater>. First published in my chapbook Övergången (2011).

Övergången

Featured in Jacket 2 (USA) (2012), <http://jacket2.org/poems/poems-david-prater>. Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026). First published in English and Swedish in my chapbook Övergången (2011).

Sunshine for Kim Dae-jung

Featured in Jacket 2 (USA) (2012), <http://jacket2.org/poems/poems-david-prater>. Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

‘Т’га за југ’

First published in Shipwrights Review (Sweden), no. 2 (2012), <http://www.shipwrightsreview.com/tra/>. Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

(On the tomb of) José Sara­m­ago

First published in Laven­der Room Zine (2011).

Spring*

Translated into Macedonian for Struga Poetry Evenings: Poetry from Five Continents (Struga: Macedonia, 2011). First published in Southerly, vol. 64, no. 2 (2004). Collected in We Will Disappear (2007).

Kus

Winner of the June Shenfield Poetry Prize, Swinburne University of Technology, 2007. Translated into Macedonian for Struga Poetry Evenings: Poetry from Five Continents (Struga: Macedonia, 2011). Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

Sunbathing

Anthologised in F. Plunkett (ed.), Thirty Australian Poets (University of Queensland Press: Brisbane, 2011). First published in Overland, no. 193 (2008). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

Oz

Anthologised in F. Plunkett (ed.), Thirty Australian Poets (University of Queensland Press: Brisbane, 2011). First published in Jacket, no. 39 (2010), <http://jacketmagazine.com/39/ra-prater.shtml>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

Lady Land

Anthologised in F. Plunkett (ed.), Thirty Australian Poets (University of Queensland Press: Brisbane, 2011). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

Lurker

First published in The Sun Herald (Sydney), 4 Dec. 2010. Anthologised in F. Plunkett (ed.), Thirty Australian Poets (University of Queensland Press: Brisbane, 2011).

A821.4

Anthologised in F. Plunkett (ed.), Thirty Australian Poets (University of Queensland Press: Brisbane, 2011). First published in PFS Post (USA), Dec. 2008, <http://artrecess.blogspot.com.au/2008/12/david-prater-netherlandsaustralia-a8214.html>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

(On The Tomb Of) Agnes Smedley

First published in K. Andrews (ed.), Miscellaneous Voices: Australian Blog Writing 1 (Miscellaneous Press: Melbourne, 2010).

I couldn’t agree with you, more

First published in K. Andrews (ed.), Miscellaneous Voices: Australian Blog Writing 1 (Miscellaneous Press: Melbourne, 2010).

Predacity

First published in FourW, no. 22 (2011). Part of the series Imaginary Cities: PC Bangs, written during my 2005 Asialink residency in Seoul.

Ozko (Envoi)

First published in Cordite Poetry Review, no. 35.2 (2011), <http://cordite.org.au/essays/ozko-envoi/>.

Oz–Ko

First published in Cordite Poetry Review, no. 35.1 (2011), <http://cordite.org.au/poetry/ozko-hoju-hanguk/oz-ko/>.

Rivet

First published in Blackbox/Manifold (UK), no. 6 (2011), <https://blackboxmanifold.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/issues/issues-1-10/issue-6/david-prater>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

Swagman Ted

First published in Blackbox/Manifold (UK), no. 6 (2011), <https://blackboxmanifold.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/issues/issues-1-10/issue-6/david-prater>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

dress young

First published in Page 17, no. 8 (2010). Collected in my chapbook Final Friday (2009) and later in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

That’s Buddha

Recorded live in Montreal. First published in Going Down Swinging, no. 30 (2010).

Storm Girl

First published in Kurungabaa, vol. 2, no. 2 (2010).

Merry Weather

First published in Kurungabaa, vol. 2, no. 2 (2010).

(On the Tomb of) Yun Hye-yong

First published in Ekleksographia, no. 2 (2010). Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books, 2026).

Gang Languid

First published in Southerly, vol. 69, no. 3 (2010). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

Dawnward

First published in Jacket, no. 39 (2010), <http://jacketmagazine.com/39/ra-prater.shtml>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

The Campfires of the Lost

First published in Jacket, no. 39 (2010), <http://jacketmagazine.com/39/ra-prater.shtml>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

Turtles for Myron Lysenko

First published in Victorian Writer, Mar. 2010.

Anti-Kraak

First published in FourW, no. 20 (2009). Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books: Castlemaine, 2026).

Poet Momentous!

First published in Blast: Poetry and Critical Writing, no. 9 (2009). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

The Germ! The Germ!

First published in YB (USA), no. 2 (2009), <http://ybjournal.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/david-prater.html>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

O

First published in Stop, Drop and Roll, no. 1 (2009). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

Words from the Master

First published in Stop, Drop and Roll, no. 1 (2009). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

The first letter

First published in Stop, Drop and Roll, no. 1 (2009). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

I was the abortion

First published in Stop, Drop and Roll, no. 1 (2009). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

‘CHMOD RXW’, ‘B.A.S.E.’, ‘She’s An Autarky’, First published in foam:e, no. 6 (2009), <http://www.foame.org/Issue6/poems/prater.html>.

‘Bushpo’, ‘B’rel’n’, First published in Cordite Poetry Review, no. 29 (2008), <http://cordite.org.au/poetry/pastoral/bushpo/>. Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

‘Great Big Star’, First published in FourW, no. 19 (2008).

‘O’Dowd Seeks Whitman’, First published in Going Down Swinging, no. 27 (2008). Collected in Leaves of Glass (Puncher and Wattmann, 2013).

‘Rain Loop’, First published in Meanjin, vol. 67, no. 3 (2008).

‘Kerry’, First published in Famous Reporter, no. 37 (2008).

‘Nieuw Holland’, First published in Island, no. 113 (2008).

‘De Kraai en het Paard’, First published in Going Down Swinging, no. 25 (2008).

‘Yer Morningness’, First published in The Age, 9 Feb. 2008.

‘small town fsu’, ‘exhale on main street’, ‘alles klaar?’, First published in The Otolith, Feb. 2007, <http://the-otolith.blogspot.com.au/2007/01/david-prater-small-town-fsu-rocking-my.html>.

‘Snowy’, First published in Snorkel, no. 6 (2007), <http://www.snorkel.org.au/006/prater.html>.

‘new space seasons’, First published in Four W, no. 18 (2007).

‘travelling types’, First published in Overland, no. 193 (2007).

The Day Britney Died

First published in OCHO (USA) (2007). Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books: Castlemaine, 2026).

More sun than clouds sprinkles early

First published in OCHO (USA) (2007). Collected in Transition Vamps (Cordite Books: Castlemaine, 2026).

‘Betty Conquers All’, First published in hutt, vol. 2, no. 5 (2007), <http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/37709/20070628-0004/www.papertigermedia.com/hutt/hutt2_5/prater.html>.

‘Walt Whitman Service Area’, First published in The Age, 20 Jan. 2007.

‘Exes & Zeroes’, First published in Cordite Poetry Review, no. 25 (2006), <http://cordite.org.au/poetry/generation-of-zeroes/david-prater-exes-zeroes/>.

‘The Two Faces of Zlatyu Boyadziev’, ‘18 Fields’, ‘Abstract Moon’, First published in Mirage #4/Period[ical] (USA), Sep. 2006.

‘Suicide airliner attacks’, T. Swift (ed.), Babylon Burning: 9/11 five years on, Poems in aid of the Red Cross (nthposition: London, 2006).

‘Insurgency’, Eyewear (UK), Aug. 2006, <http://toddswift.blogspot.com/2006/08/poem-by-david-prater.html>.

‘Hoju Bihang-gi’, ‘imaginary cities: saga’, Peril, no. 2 (2006), <http://www.peril.com.au/edition2/hoju-bihang-gi>.

‘Karin Revisited’, The Red Room Company, ‘Poetry Picture Show’ Project (2006), <http://redroomcompany.org/poem/david-prater/karin-revisited/>.

‘The Boys Who’ (audio), Going Down Swinging, no. 23 (2006).

‘1001 Nights’, Overland, no. 183 (2006).

‘50’, Going Down Swinging, no. 23 (2006).

‘imaginary cities: heli’, Stylus, no. 22 (2006).

‘Back To the Tourist III’, ‘imaginary cities: coni’, ‘imaginary cities: cubi’, Softblow (Singapore), 2006, <http://www.softblow.org/prater.html>.

‘imaginary cities: dupli’, Snorkel, no. 3 (2006), <http://snorkel.org.au/003/prater.html>.

‘Machines for Living In’, hutt, vol. 2, no. 3 (2006), <http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/37709/20070628-0004/www.papertigermedia.com/hutt/hutt2_3/prater.html>.

‘Maz’, ‘Three Generations’, Luzmag (Spain), Mar. 2006, <http://luzmag.blogspot.com/2006/03/two-poems-by-david-prater-maz-have-you.html>.

‘Exes & Zeroes’, ‘Oh God!’, PFS Post (USA), Mar. 2006, <http://artrecess.blogspot.com/2006/03/david-prater-australia-two-poems.html>.

‘Kerze 1’, ‘Kerze 2’, ‘Kerze 3’, foam:e, no. 3 ( 2006), <http://www.foame.org/Issue3/poems/prater.html>.

‘Avalon V’, ‘Inna’, T. Swift (ed.), Future Welcome: the Moosehead Anthology X (DC Books: Montreal, 2005).

‘The Boys Who’ (audio), Going Down Swinging, no. 22 (2005).

‘Durer: Innsbruck’, Cordite Poetry Review, no. 23 (2005), <http://cordite.org.au/poetry/children-of-malley/abby-s-malley-durer-innsbruck-2005/>.

‘City Slacker’, Overland, no. 181 (2005).

‘Dying On The Vine(s)’, ‘Eight Miles High’, P.F.S. Post (USA), Oct. 2005, <http://artrecess.blogspot.com/2005/10/david-prater-two-poems.html>.

‘in heaven it’s always raining’, ‘why do you cry run lola run’, ‘when we were in the wild poems’, nthposition (UK), July 2005, <http://nthposition.com/inheavenitsalways.php>.

‘funeral for democracy’, The Age, 20 Aug. 2005.

‘There’s a Wild Jack Russell in the Moon’, Famous Reporter, no. 31 (2005).

‘Dead Poem Office’, Cordite Poetry Review, no. 22 (2005), <http://cordite.org.au/poetry/editorial-intervention/dead-poem-office/>.

‘Tribesco Krowe’, ‘Haiku [enjambement]’, ‘Impossible Socks’, Snorkel, no. 1 (2005), <http://snorkel.org.au/001/prater.html>.

‘Kyoto crow(s)’, V. Stevenson and T. Swift (eds), In the Criminal’s Cabinet: An Nthology of Poetry and Fiction (nthposition: London, 2004).

‘Kyoto Crow(s)’, ‘Tonkatsu Zen!’, nthposition (UK), Aug. 2004, <http://www.nthposition.com/kyotocrowsamptonkatsu.php>.

‘Spring*’, ‘Empires Between’, ‘Bustling’, Southerly, vol. 64, no. 2 (2004).

‘On the Tomb of Victor Bruce (for Bruce Beaver)’, Red Room Commission (2004).

‘Her Royal Majesty The Queen’, ‘America’, Gutcult (USA), July 2004, <http://www.gutcult.com/litjourn4/html/prater1.html>.

‘She Finds Her Speed’, The Age, 1 May 2004.

‘Thomas Pynchon & The Art Of Anonymity Maintenance’, Meanjin,
vol. 63, no. 1 (2004).

‘We Miss You!’, ‘Madchester’, Big Bridge (USA), no. 9 (2004), <http://www.bigbridge.org/issue9/ozprater.htm>.

‘Paladin’, Vibewire, Jan. 2004, <http://web.archive.org/web/20050224204938/www.vibewire.net/articles.php?id=2359>.

In a Dim Sea Nation

Anthologised in M. Duwell (ed.), The Best Australian Poetry 2003 (University of Queensland Press: Brisbane, 2004).

First published in Papertiger (CD-ROM), no. 2 (2002).

‘identikit nation’, Fusebox (Rattapallax, USA), no. 2 (2003), <https://web.archive.org/web/20031219115545/http://www.rattapallax.com/fusebox_02poems2.htm#02_prater>.

‘Tor’, ‘Ode’, ‘Ich bin ein Tourist’, ‘Fassbar’, Gangway (Austria/ Australia), no. 29 (2003), <http://www.gangway.net/29/gangway29.4.html>.

‘Dexedrine Bombs’, ‘Cities of Pau’, Going Down Swinging, no. 21 (2003).

‘Northern Rivers Pastoral’, Pelt, no. 9 (2003).

‘5 haiku’ [translated into Japanese], Second World Haiku Association Conference Anthology (WHA: Saitama, 2003).

‘entgegengesetz’, hutt, vol. 1, no. 3 (2003), <http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/37709/20070628-0004/www.papertigermedia.com/hutt/hutt03/prater.html>.

‘lovers/lateness’, hutt, vol. 1, no. 2 (2003), <http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/37709/20070628-0004/www.papertigermedia.com/hutt/hutt02/prater.html>.

‘We Will Disappear’, ‘Silver Rocket’, ‘Flat Out on a Highway Lined With Dim Stars’, Slope (USA), no. 17 (2003), <http://www.slope.org/archive/issue17/poems17prater.html>.

‘Ken’, ‘Ma Sonic’, ‘Last Night Betty’, T. Swift and P. Norton (eds), Short Fuse: The Global Anthology of Fusion Poetry (Rattapallax Press: New York City, 2002).

‘Theme Song’, ‘Ma Sonic’, ‘In a Previous Carnation’, ‘The Rise and Fall of Davey Dreamnation’, Just Another Art Movement (NZ), no. 17 (2002).

‘Humility Publishing’, Shampoo Poetry (USA), no. 11 (2002), <http://www.shampoopoetry.com/ShampooEleven/prater.html>.

‘Space Age Riot’, ‘The Sprawl’, Divan, no. 3 (2001).

‘Mr Tui’, ‘Chakraw Monkey’, ‘The Chao Le’, Slope (USA), no. 9 (2001), <http://www.slope.org/archive/nine/prater.html>.

‘The Night I Met Beck’, Going Down Swinging, no. 19 (2001).

‘Ken’, Cordite Poetry Review, no. 6–7 (2000), <http://cordite.org.au/poetry/new-poetry/david-prater-ken/>.

‘Cars (for Bruce Beaver)’, Jacket, no. 8 (1999), <http://www.jacketmagazine.com/08/prater-poem.html>.

‘Xanana’s Dog’, Cordite Poetry Review, no. 5 (1998), <http://cordite.org.au/poetry/unthemed5/xananas-dog/>.

‘Kate’s Photograph’, Voiceworks, no. 46 (1996).

‘The Roses’, B. Janssen, S. Yaman and S. Carter (eds), Journeys to the Point: Poetry by Young Australians (Express Media: Melbourne, 1994).

‘Mother Russia’, Typecast, no. 2 (1991).