Noel Rowe, Touching the hem

Noel Rowe (20 June 1951 – 11 July 2007) was a poet who lived in Sydney, Australia, and was Senior Lecturer in Australian Literature at the University of Sydney where he was also awarded the University Medal (1984) and doctorate (1989). His books include Perhaps, After All (Vagabond, 2000), Next to Nothing (Vagabond Stray Dog, 2004) and Touching the Hem (Vagabond, 2006). He was co-editor of the literary journal Southerly. He also, with Vivian Smith, edited Windchimes: Asia in Australian Poetry(Pandanus Books, 2006). In 2005, Rowe was awarded the William Baylebridge Memorial Prize for poetry. He was also invited to read his poetry at International Festivals in Rotterdam (2005) and Jerusalem (2006). He had particular interest in the interrelationship between literature, theology and ethics. Rowe died on 11 July 2007, after being ill for two years. He is deeply missed by the Sydney poetry community he did so much to support and encourage.

Rare Object Number 47.
28 pages. Published 2006.
Cover image by Kay Orchison.