I went to Wharparilla West rural school (near Echuca, northern Victoria) for eight years. We read the Victorian School Readers, Books 1 – 8, which included the best poetry from Australia, the UK and the US. Everyone read poetry; we all learnt to memorize and recite it. Recitation was a subject on the curriculum. We sang songs and recited poems at the end-of-year School Concert.

Occasionally I wrote verse for children and adults, but I didn’t seek publication until 1982. Since then my poems have been published in many magazines and in 24 collections in Australia, the UK and the US. As well, many have been published in e-journals, on blogs, and read on radio.

I am a freelance writer, compiler, journalist and poet, living in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne, Victoria. You will find poems on my website, www.edelwignell.com.au, and news about my latest published titles on the Home Page:

Christina’s Matilda, ill. Elizabeth Botté, and Long Live Us!, ill. Peter Allert, both 2011, Interactive Publications: http://ipoz.biz/IP_Kidz/Kidz.htm

Bilby Secrets, ill. Mark Jackson, 2011, Walker Books Australia, ‘Nature Storybooks’: http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/

Shortlisted, CBCA Eve Pownall Award for Information Books, 2012

Shortlisted, Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children’s Literature, 2012

Coming in January 2015: Bilby: Secrets of an Australian Marsupial, Candlewick Press, USA

Read Edel Wignell’s article, ‘Try Tetractys’ about a short form of poetry-writing.

In July 2013 Edel Wignell bequeathed her works and copyright to The Australian Society of Authors: www.asauthors.org . Contact the General Manager, Steven Wimmer: steven@asauthors,org

(Cover illustration of Edel Wignell’s Bilby Secrets, illustrated by Mark Jackson, p/b 2014, Walker Books Australia.)

Poems by Edel Wignell

BILBY SONG ©

This song was sung at the launch of Bilby Secrets – words by Edel Wignell; tune: the chorus of ‘Waltzing Matilda’.)

 

Long live the bilby,
Long live the bilby,
Bilby survival – survival we sing.
Secret in your burrow,
Sleeping through the long, hot day;
Long live the bilby, now hear the words ring.

 

Long live the bilby,
Long live the bilby,
Bilby survival – survival we sing.
Secret in your food quest,
Searching through the long, cool night;
Long live the bilby, now hear the words ring.

 

Long live the bilby,
Long live the bilby,
Bilby survival – survival we sing,
Escaping your predators:
Sliding snake and wily fox;
Long live the bilby, now hear the words ring.

 

Long live the bilby,
Long live the bilby,
Bilby survival – survival we sing.
Easter chocoholics –
Bunny, No! Bilby, Yes!
Long live the bilby, now hear the words ring.

The Australian Society of Authors ©

 

RUTH’S TOOTH

There was a young lassie called Ruth,

Who wriggled a little looth tooth,

She hitched and she twitched

Like a goblin bewitched,

Till that tooth came looth from her mooth.

©The Australian Society of Authors

(First published in Puffinalia, 1982, and published/broadcasted seven times since.)

 

TOGGANNOGGERA

(Pronunciation: give emphasis to ‘ogg’: Togg-an-ogg-era. This is a children’s favourite. They like to hear it, and love getting their tongues and minds around the crazy place-name when reading it aloud from a chart, their giggling quickly increasing.)

On my way to Toggannoggera

My horse began to joggannoggera,

Then to canter,

Next to gallop,

Landed in a boggannoggera.

 

On my way to Toggannoggera

I came down with a woggannoggera,

Felt so sick,

Thought I would die,

Lay beside a loggannoggera.

 

On my way to Toggannoggera

I got lost in a foggannoggera,

Wandered around

Alone and lost,

Found at last by a doggannoggera.

 

On my way to Toggannoggera

My car coughed up a coggannoggera,

Snorted and chugged,

Hiccoughed and croaked,

Sounded like a froggannoggera!

© The Australian Society of Authors

(First published in Countdown, 1998, and four times since)

SEA MONSTERS

Creatures of the deep

Range the ocean wide,

Cruise around the islands,

Hungry, evil-eyed.

 

Hunting for their dinner,

Seeking on their trips:

Fishermen in boats,

Tasty fish and ships.

© The Australian Society of Authors

(First published in Blast Off: School Magazine 2005, and in a collection, 2009.)