Rob Walker (poet)
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Rob Walker is a contemporary Australian poet and writer. (Pen names: rob walker, robwalkerpoet.) His poetry has been published widely in magazines, journals, anthologies and online since the mid 1990s. His work has been translated into Arabic , Spanish and Dutch , text-published in English in France and India and e-published on most continents.
“Rob Walker's poems concern themselves with injustice, beauty, memory, impressions, captivity and misplaced assistance” (Debra Zott, poet)
“Some may find Walker’s poetry to be straightforward, but I believe that this is a mirage effect as, while written with apparent simplicity and without engaging in sophisticated word play, there is a constant thread of preoccupation running from the local to the global. Some poems are marbled through with a contained distress or acrid criticism which hides in the form of humorous satire” (Susan Ballyn, University of Barcelona
)
“Walker touches on the full spectrum of human frailty.” (Magdalena Ball, poet, editor, broadcaster.)
"rob walker combines sharp perception, compassion and humour to create crisp intersections of time and place. Airy shortcuts, sensuous imagery, and a warm sympathy combine in poems that range from insect life to human relationships, from landscape to love." (Jan Owen
, Australian poet)
“Walker finds a wide range of subjects variously eliciting his wit, concern, outrage or empathy. He achieves memorable poems through a combination of startling visual imagery and a dialogue with language itself.” (Graham Rowlands
, poet, editor, Flinders University
)
“Whether he’s focussing on the minute worlds of insects or big political themes, rob walker’s poetry is witty, incisive and nicely attuned to the ‘mouthfeel’ of language. His black sense of humour is a bonus.” Mike Ladd
(poet, ABC broadcaster)
He employs a wide variety of genres – text, audio/ video poems, music and spoken word performance poetry. He has had music composed for his work by - and recorded and performed live with - Zephyr Quartet
and
Max-Mo
. He makes his work available to Creative Commons websites where it has been frequently remixed by other artists.
Single Poet Collection Competition, 2006 (winner, for micromacro )
• 2007 Newcastle Poetry Prize
(New Media) for moon: antipoem (with his son Matt Walker)
• 2009 Newcastle Poetry Prize
(New Media) for bibliophobia (with his son Ben Walker)
• 2010 Newcastle Poetry Prize
(New Media) as judge.
Rob Walker is a contemporary Australian poet and writer. (Pen names: rob walker, robwalkerpoet.) His poetry has been published widely in magazines, journals, anthologies and online since the mid 1990s. His work has been translated into Arabic , Spanish and Dutch , text-published in English in France and India and e-published on most continents.
Biography
Born Robert John Walker (June 26, 1953) Rob Walker has lived in Adelaide or the Adelaide Hills most of his life. He attended Cowandilla Primary and Plympton High Schools and trained as a primary school teacher at Western Teachers College (later University of South Australia.) He has worked as a primary school educator, particularly in the Performing Arts area. In addition to poetry he writes occasional book reviews , articles, essays and short fiction. He currently divides his time between Australia and Himeji, Japan.Poetry
Walker’s work often relates to the natural world, children and occasionally political and social issues. He uses diverse genres and styles, often using the vernacular and humour to express complex issues in simple language. Consequently there is no consensus amongst poets or critics as to the value or intent of his work.“Rob Walker's poems concern themselves with injustice, beauty, memory, impressions, captivity and misplaced assistance” (Debra Zott, poet)
“Some may find Walker’s poetry to be straightforward, but I believe that this is a mirage effect as, while written with apparent simplicity and without engaging in sophisticated word play, there is a constant thread of preoccupation running from the local to the global. Some poems are marbled through with a contained distress or acrid criticism which hides in the form of humorous satire” (Susan Ballyn, University of Barcelona
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
)
“Walker touches on the full spectrum of human frailty.” (Magdalena Ball, poet, editor, broadcaster.)
"rob walker combines sharp perception, compassion and humour to create crisp intersections of time and place. Airy shortcuts, sensuous imagery, and a warm sympathy combine in poems that range from insect life to human relationships, from landscape to love." (Jan Owen
Jan Owen
-Life:Jan Owen was born Janette Muriel Sincock in Adelaide, South Australia, attending school there and in Melbourne, leaving early to work as a laboratory assistant...
, Australian poet)
“Walker finds a wide range of subjects variously eliciting his wit, concern, outrage or empathy. He achieves memorable poems through a combination of startling visual imagery and a dialogue with language itself.” (Graham Rowlands
Graham Rowlands
Graham John Rowlands is an Adelaide-based poet who has published widely in magazines and newspapers since the late 1960s. He was awarded the Barbara Hanrahan Fellowship in 2002....
, poet, editor, Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
)
“Whether he’s focussing on the minute worlds of insects or big political themes, rob walker’s poetry is witty, incisive and nicely attuned to the ‘mouthfeel’ of language. His black sense of humour is a bonus.” Mike Ladd
Mike Ladd (poet)
Mike Ladd is an Australian poet and radio presenter.Mike Ladd was born in Berkeley, California while his Australian parents were living and working in America, but he returned to Australia when he was one year old, and grew up in the Adelaide Hills...
(poet, ABC broadcaster)
He employs a wide variety of genres – text, audio/ video poems, music and spoken word performance poetry. He has had music composed for his work by - and recorded and performed live with - Zephyr Quartet
Zephyr Quartet
The Zephyr Quartet is a string quartet based in Adelaide, South Australia.Zephyr has received tuition from the Takacs Quartet, the Australian String Quartet and at the National Academy of Music, performed at festivals including the Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Barossa Music Festival and the...
and
Max-Mo
Max-Mo
Max-Mo is a unique impro jazz/ funk/poetry and spoken word collective based in Adelaide, South Australia. The group was formed in March 2009 by founding musicians Steve Matters , Andy Mills , Derek Pascoe and performers Mike Ladd, Amelia Walker and Rob Walker – all published and...
. He makes his work available to Creative Commons websites where it has been frequently remixed by other artists.
Awards
• Inaugural Onkaparinga Poetry UnhingedSingle Poet Collection Competition, 2006 (winner, for micromacro )
• 2007 Newcastle Poetry Prize
Newcastle Poetry Prize
The Newcastle Poetry Prize is an annual Australian award for poetry. It was established in 1981 as the Mattara Poetry Prize.The Prize began from humble beginnings in September 1980, when Peter Goldman stood in the middle of Civic Park during the Mattara Festival and handed out an anthology of...
(New Media) for moon: antipoem (with his son Matt Walker)
• 2009 Newcastle Poetry Prize
Newcastle Poetry Prize
The Newcastle Poetry Prize is an annual Australian award for poetry. It was established in 1981 as the Mattara Poetry Prize.The Prize began from humble beginnings in September 1980, when Peter Goldman stood in the middle of Civic Park during the Mattara Festival and handed out an anthology of...
(New Media) for bibliophobia (with his son Ben Walker)
• 2010 Newcastle Poetry Prize
Newcastle Poetry Prize
The Newcastle Poetry Prize is an annual Australian award for poetry. It was established in 1981 as the Mattara Poetry Prize.The Prize began from humble beginnings in September 1980, when Peter Goldman stood in the middle of Civic Park during the Mattara Festival and handed out an anthology of...
(New Media) as judge.
External links
- http://www.robwalkerpoet.com/ robwalkerpoet
- http://www.myspace.com/max-mo/Music Music
- http://cercles.com/review/r47/WalkerR.html Review of micromacro (french)
- http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1487 Review of micromacro (english)
- http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2099 Review of phobiaphobia
- http://robwalkerpoet.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html Wakarimasen (photo-journal of Japan)
- http://vimeo.com/7872488 Videopoem 'bibliophobia'
- http://friendlystreetpoets.org.au/?page_id=514 3 poems @ Friendly Street
- http://www.arts.org.nz/walker.htm prose-poem 'spud'
- http://www.cortlandreview.com/issue/44/walker.html audio-poem 'The Darkening Eucalyptic'
- http://www.robwalkerpoet.com/?page_id=531 remixed music poems
- http://www.austlit.edu.au/run?ex=ShowAgent&agentId=A(mV AustLit Agent details
- http://sawriters.org.au/general/rob-walker SA Writers
- http://friendlystreetpoets.org.au/?page_id=514 Friendly Street