Its content was mostly related to poetry, and included work belonging the differing styles of formalism and free verse by established authors and new writers.
It focused partly on the authors and resources of a number of online poetry forums, such as Eratosphere and The Gazebo.
[1] The Flea was founded by Australian poet Paul Stevens in 2009 with the technical assistance of Peter Bloxsom, who also edits the online sonnet journal 14by14.
[2] It published many notable poets from the U.K., U.S. and Australia, including Les Murray, Robert Mezey, Alison Brackenbury, Stephen Edgar, Maryann Corbett, Rhina Espaillat, M. A. Griffiths, Rose Kelleher, Janet Kenny, Timothy Murphy, John Whitworth, Clive James, Alan Gould, Geoff Page, Peter Wyton and Ann Drysdale.
It was named after John Donne's poem "The Flea", and published contemporary verse loosely in the metaphysical poetry tradition.