Joanne Morcom

High Season

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is hot, crowded and noisy. I’m one of many visitors, although I consider myself to be an amateur art connoisseur who enjoys quiet contemplation of the paintings. Impossible here today. Feeling claustrophobic, I make my way to the enormous gift shop. It’s busy, but not frenzied. I take a few calming breaths, grab a shopping basket and load it up with souvenirs. My favorite is a pair of sunglasses with yellow tinted lenses and tiny sunflowers etched on the frames. What a find!  I try them on and see the world through a golden glow. Just like Vincent? Perhaps. 

self-portrait
blue eyes seem to follow
passersby

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About the Author

Joanne Morcom lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she works as a social worker.  She’s the author of five poetry collections.  Her poetry appears in Autumn Moon Haiku Journal, GUSTS: Contemporary Tanka, Haiku Canada Review, Scifaikuest and tinywords. She also writes book reviews for Haiku Canada Review and GUSTS.

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