John Foulcher

John Foulcher has written eleven books of poetry, most recently 101 Poems (Pitt Street Poetry 2015), a selection from his previous books, and A Casual Penance (Pitt Street Poetry 2017). His work has appeared in Australian magazines and anthologies for more than thirty-five years, and he has received and been shortlisted for many awards. Poems from his first book, Light Pressure (Angus&Robertson 1983), were set for study on the New South Wales Higher School Certificate syllabus for ten years. In 2010–11 he was the Literature Board’s resident at the Keesing Studio in Paris. He divides his time between Canberra and an old Catholic church which he is renovating near the town of Braidwood in New South Wales. His books can be purchased from pittstreetpoetry.com.

John Foulcher reviews 'The Catullan Rag' by Peter Rose and 'On My Empty Feet' by Rhyll McMaster

October 1993, no. 155 • 01 October 1993

Both of these volumes of poetry claim to deal with the ordinary. Peter Rose’s publisher, Picador, states in its back-cover blurb that the author of The Catullan Rag chooses ‘to focus ... sharply on the urban, the everyday, the seemingly ordinary’, while Heinemann suggests that ‘McMaster has a sure ear for the rhythms of everyday speech’. In McMaster’s case it may be true, but Picador ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'Before the Storm' by John Foulcher

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

Before the Storm John Foulcher ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'Holly and Will' by John Foulcher

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

Holly and Will 1972 John Foulcher ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'Mark, Pauline and me' by John Foulcher

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

Mark, Pauline and Me 1970 John Foulcher ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'Paris Evening' by John Foulcher

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

Paris Evening 13 November 2015 It is Friday, around five. He isstrolling on the rue Voltaire, flâneurfor the young century. The afternoon is crumbling, the trees are shutting down for winter,leaves pirouetting to the streetand cracking like small bones beneath his feet. All around him, the streetlights are coming on,canisters of empire, recalling dayswhen endings were clamorous. He stops at ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'The Poetry Exam' by John Foulcher

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

The Poetry Exam The hall begins to fill. The students sit.She sets her papers neatly on the deskand rolls the lines around her mouth, flitsfrom word to word, moves her lips. The rest is left to memory. The tests are stackedfor passing out on perfect, icy linesof tables set in single file, tables packedaway when half-right answers whine and plead for one mark more. She’s workedfor this. She kn ... (read more)