Gus Ferguson

Infobox Writer
bgcolour = silver
name = Gus Ferguson


image_size = 200px
birthdate = Birth date and age|1940|1|1|df=yes
birthplace = Scotland
occupation = Cartoonist, Poet, Pharmacist, Slug and Snail Enthusiast
nationality = South African
magnum opus =
influences =
influenced =

Gus Ferguson (1940-) is a South African cartoonist, poet and pharmacist. He was born in Scotland, but moved with his parents to South Africa in 1949.

His cartoons have been published widely in South Africa; he has also published poems accompanied by cartoons. He has run SnailPress (a small publisher invaluable as a vehicle for many young poets in South Africa) and has most recently published three books of cartoons : "Love Amongst the Middle-Aged","Waiting for Gateau (The Dark side of the Roll" and "Dubious Delights of Aging and Other Follies". He edits a poetry journal, Carapace. A typical example of his verse is as follows :-

"Gus Ferguson should be martyred
"But not with wood and nails"
"he should be wrapped in lettuce leaves"
"and thrown amongst his snails".

He has won various poetry and publishing prizes including the AA Via Award, the Eleanor Anderson Special Award and the Molteno Medal.

He lives in Cape Town, South Africa.

Bibliography

Poetry
* "Snail Morning" (Ad Donker) (1979)
* "Doggerel Day" (Ad Donker) (1982)
* "Carpe Diem" (Carrefour)(1992)
* "The Herding of the Snail" (Firfield Press) (1995)
* "Icarus Rising"
* "Light Verse at the end of the Tunnel" (David Philip)(1996)
* "Stressed-Unstressed" (David Philip) (2000)
* "Arse Poetica" (2003)

Cartoons
* "Love Amongst the Middle-Aged" (Queillerie)(1997)
* "Waiting for Gateau" (2004)
* "Dubious Delights of Aging and Other Follies" (2006)

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WKTqUd8HRA/ YouTube Video of Gus Ferguson reading his poetry]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YPhflNOv98/ YouTube Video of Gus Ferguson reading childrens' poetry]
* [http://carapace.book.co.za/ Carapace Literary Journal]
* [http://southafrica.poetryinternationalweb.org/piw_cms/cms/cms_module/index.php?obj_id=5369/ South Africa Poetry International Web : Gus Ferguson's tribute to Tatamkhulu Afrika]