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This book brings together 15 living Flemish poets. They come from more than one age group. Jan H. Mysjkin chose the poems and introduces them. Readers of verse will find a range of styles.

Mark Insingel works with concrete poetry. Charles Ducal writes about social issues. Erik Spinoy draws on books. Andy Fierens mixes plain, prose-like words with performance. Inge Braeckman writes spare poems with a close, private feel. Christophe Vekeman takes a more explosive approach.

The book also includes work by Lucienne Stassaert. Stefaan van den Bremt and Geert van Istendael contribute too. So do Bart Moeyaert and Jan Lauwereyns. Other poets include Annemarie Estor and Stijn Vranken. Sylvie Marie and Maarten Inghels round out the group.

Mysjkin asks how language shapes a sense of nation. Flemish poets belong to Belgium. But they share Dutch with the Netherlands and Suriname. Which bond comes first can shape their sense of self.

He recalls debates at a poetry event in Paris. It took place in June 2015. Belgium took part as the guest country. This raised a question: what do Flemish and Walloon poets share? Mysjkin doubts that they share a Belgian path in verse. The two groups rarely read each other's work.

He also looks past those borders. Some Flemish poets use English, French, or German in poems. Geert van Istendael is one such poet. Others draw on poets from across the world. Stefaan van den Bremt is one of these. Mysjkin links this reach abroad to Flanders' small size.