Louise Crisp (born 1957) is a contemporary Australian poet, deckhand, and fire tower watcher.

Early life and education

Crist was born in Omeo, Victoria and studied linguistics, anthropology, and prehistory at the Australian National University.

Career

Crisp has worked in various jobs, including as a fire tower person on Mount Nugong, as deckhand on fishing boats in both the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and as a spokesperson for Forest Fire Management Victoria.

Poetry

Her first collection was The luminous ocean, a shared volume with Valery Wilde's In the Half-Light, published by Friendly Street Poets in 1988. She has published several more books of poetry including written in pearl & sea fed (published by Hazard Press, New Zealand in 1994) which she wrote while working on the fire tower. This volume was shortlisted for the 1995 C. J. Dennis Prize for Poetry and the New South Wales Premier's Award. Crisp's 2019 book, Yuiquimbiang, was described as "another wonderful addition to our literature’s re-engagement with the mosaic-continent nowadays known as Australia" and shortlisted for the 2020 Victorian Premier's Prize for Poetry.

Personal life

Crisp lives in East Gippsland (Victoria) with her partner and her two daughters. She is a canoeist.

Works