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Joanne Morcom
Joanne is a native Calgarian and a graduate of the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work. She credits her late parents with instilling in her a lifelong love of reading and writing. Many years ago, she began reading the work of Basho, a 17th century Zen Buddhist monk who’s considered the Shakespeare of haiku poetry. Today she writes and publishes haiku, senryu, scifaiku, tanka, haibun, and visual poetry. She teaches the occasional poetry workshop at the Alexandra Writers Centre Society, and does poetry readings as a member of The Magpie Haiku Poets, who published A Piece of Eggshell, an anthology of their work in 2004. Joanne has also published start reading now a photobooth broadside, pooka press, 2007; dAWn, postcard poetry, pooka press, 2007; and acciDENT, postcard poetry, pooka pres, 2007.
As a member of Tanka Canada she selects tanka submissions, reviews tanka books, and assists with proof reading for Gusts: Contemporary Tanka, Canada’s only tanka journal. Joanne is also a member of Haiku Canada and the Writers Guild of Alberta.
Recently, four of Joanne’s haiku were published in Carpe Diem, Les Editions David/Borealis Press, a compilation of English and French speaking poets and a first of its kind for a Canadian haiku anthology. Two student essays about Joanne’s haiku are posted at The Milikin University Global Haiku website.
Joanne works full time as a social worker and certified laughter yoga leader in a Calgary long term care centre.
Awards
First Place, The Herb Barrett Award for Haiku, Hamilton Haiku Press, 2000
First Place (Modern Category), North American Tanka Contest, Alberta Poetry Festival, 2001
Editor’s Choice Award, DailyHaiku (Cycle 4 Week 15), 2008
