John Forbes (1 September 1950 – 23 January 1998) was an Australian poet. Forbes was born in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, but during his childhood his family lived in northern Queensland, Malaya and New Guinea. He went to

Sydney University The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's six ...

, and his circle of friends included the poets Robert Adamson, Martin Johnston, and John Tranter. It was at this time that the work of the American poets

Ted Berrigan Ted Berrigan (November 15, 1934 – July 4, 1983) was an American poet. Early life Berrigan was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on November 15, 1934. After high school, he spent a year at Providence College before joining the U.S. Army. After ...

John Ashbery John Lawrence Ashbery (July 28, 1927 – September 3, 2017) was an American poet and art critic. Ashbery is considered the most influential American poet of his time. Oxford University literary critic John Bayley wrote that Ashbery "sounded, in ...

and

Frank O'Hara Francis Russell "Frank" O'Hara (March 27, 1926 – July 25, 1966) was an American writer, poet, and art critic. A curator at the Museum of Modern Art, O'Hara became prominent in New York City's art world. O'Hara is regarded as a leading figure i ...

made a strong and lasting impression on him. He returned to live in Melbourne in the late 1980s, where he became the poetry editor of '' Scripsi''. His friends around this time included the poets

Gig Ryan Gig Ryan, born Elizabeth Anne Martina Ryan November 5, 1956, is an Australian poet. She is a recipient of the Christopher Brennan Award. Biography Ryan was born in Leicester, England in 1956. Her father is the Australian surgeon Peter John R ...

Laurie Duggan Laurence James Duggan (born 1949), known as Laurie Duggan, is an Australian poet, editor, and translator. Life Laurie Duggan was born in Melbourne and attended Monash University, where his friends included the poets Alan Wearne and John A. Sc ...

and

Alan Wearne Alan Wearne (born 23 July 1948) is an Australian poet. Early life and education Alan Wearne was born on 23 July 1948 and grew up in Melbourne. He studied history at Monash University, where he met the poets Laurie Duggan and John A. Scott. H ...

. Forbes died in

of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

, aged 47.

Works

*''Collected Poems, 1970–1998''; 2001, Brandl & Schlesinger, . *''Damaged Glamour''; 1998, Brandl & Schlesinger, . *''Humidity''; 1998, Equipage. *''New and Selected Poems''; 1992, Angus & Robertson, . *''The Stunned Mullet''; 1988, Hale & Iremonger. *''Stalin's Holidays''; 1981, Transit Poetry. *''Drugs''; 1979, Black Lamb Press. *''On the Beach''; 1977, Sea Cruise Books. *''Tropical Skiing''; 1976, Angus & Robertson.

Related works

*Ken Bolton (ed.) ''Homage to John Forbes''. (Brandl & Schlesinger, 2002)

References

External links

Poems, links etc., including obituary by Alan WearneForbes issue of ''Jacket''
by Philip Mead 1950 births 1998 deaths Poets from Melbourne University of Sydney alumni 20th-century Australian poets Australian male poets 20th-century Australian male writers {{Australia-poet-stub