Gwen Harwood AO (née Gwendoline Nessie Foster, 8 June 1920 – 5 December 1995)[1] was an Australian poet and librettist.

[1] She married linguist Bill Harwood in September 1945, shortly after which they moved to Oyster Cove south of Hobart as he was appointed a lecturer at the University of Tasmania.

Harwood had written poetry for many years, and her first poem was published in Meanjin in 1944, but her work did not start appearing regularly in journals and books until the 1960s.

Harwood used a range of pseudonyms in her early work, such as Walter Lehmann, W. W. Hagendoor (an anagram of her name), Francis Geyer, Timothy (TF) Kline, Miriam Stone, and Alan Carvosso.

[7] She also wrote libretti for composers such as Larry Sitsky, James Penberthy, Don Kay and Ian Cugley.

Harwood's poetry has recurring themes of motherhood and the stifled role of women, particularly those of young mothers.

[13] The style and technique of Harwood's poetry has led to several of her works being employed by the New South Wales Board of Studies as prescribed texts for the High School Certificate.