Marion Clarke is from the coastal town of Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, located near the famous Mountains of Mourne. She holds a degree in French and Linguistics and post-graduate diploma in French and Business Studies. A member of the Irish Haiku Society, Clarke and has been a fan of short form poetry for over a decade and is a voluntary moderator of The Haiku Foundation. In her role as poetry facilitator for Community Arts Partnership, Belfast, she provides workshops in local schools.

Clarke’s work has appeared in international print and online journals dedicated to short form poetry. One of her senryu earned her the Financial Times Poet in the City haiku award, 2015, judged by Jim Kacian. She has won two Sakura Awards in the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Invitational (2012 & 2020), was runner up in the IHTS Samurai Haibun Competition 2020, Irish Haiku Society Competition 2020, and the IAFOR Vladimar Devidé Haiku Contest 2017 (History, Story Narrative Section) Clarke has had a poem shortlisted for a Touchstone Award and several of her photo haiku were discussed on Japan’s NHK World Haiku Masters. She reckons her best Christmas present ever was when her photo haiku entry earned her the title of ‘Master of the Month’ for January, 2018.