The performances and poetry of Moon Viewing 2021
by Jessa Gardner
Photos courtesy of David Rosen/Slickpix Photography
Haiku judging by Haiku Northwest, poems by their respective authors
Moon Viewing 2021 was a beautiful evening full of music, dance, and poetry. Thank you so much to all our guest who attended on Friday and Saturday despite the cloudy skies!
Gabrielle Kazuko Nomura Gainor (far right) and dancers
We were delighted to welcome many performers into the garden over the two nights of the event, including Gabrielle Kazuno Nomura Gainor and dancers, Sovan, Japanese Koto Club, Koto no WA, and Leanna Keith!
Mirei Zaborac of Japanese Koto Club
Every year at Moon Viewing guests are encouraged write haiku poetry. The practice of writing poetry under the full moon dates back to the Heian era of Japan (794 - 1185), when aristocrats would admire the autumn moon while floating on a boat on a pond in their garden.
This year’s haiku contest was judged by members of Haiku Northwest, a local group of haiku writers and enthusiasts. Entries were judged on Friday by Tanya McDonald and Michael Dylan Welch and on Saturday by David Berger and Michael Dylan Welch. Their favorite poems are presented below, first the top three haiku poems of the evening. and then the honorable mentions (in order of last name).
Michael and Haiku Northwest “selected poems for their clarity, freshness, sometimes humor and timeliness, and for evocatively portraying the moon, even if we couldn’t see it.”
Tanya McDonald at the haiku table in the garden.
Friday’s Winners
First Place
wonder how to dress
for a moon viewing party?
the koi wear white, gold
David Takami
Second Place
the air is still—
suddenly three birds launch
searching for the moon
Paul Pietromonaco
Third Place
we change, earth changes—
I look up at the same moon
my ancestors did
Aaron Morton
Honorable Mentions
it’s a moon viewing
in the grey . . . it’s beautiful
anyway . . . the garden
Brady Curtis
northwest moon, hiding
with the gods, behind gray clouds
holding back the rain
Robert Diaz
koi beneath the bridge
bonsai balancing moonlight
pines piercing the sky
Larry Hubbell
moon’s first glimmer
long across the water
first soft kiss of a new night
Nick Kreucher
we gathered to see
Lady Luna hides her face
the clouds make her shy
Dana Pietromonaco
cloudy evening
trace of moonglow
autumn’s coming
Doug Santoni
Honorable Mentions (Youth)
gentle moonshine—
draping the walls in silver
balancing the world
Piper (age 14)
the moon climbs the sky
the earth is under my feet
the sun is far gone
Reed (age 11)
Saturday’s Winners
First Place
red-tipped leaves
every moonlit meeting
blushing deeper
Laura Lorenz
Second Place
clouds obscure the sky
is the rabbit in the moon?
the gardens still glow
Setsuko Hosoda
Third Place
in my treasure box
another moon viewing
lived through
Aleksandra Monk
Honorable Mentions
new year upon me
so much to look forward to
family, friends, and . . . new moon!
Mark English (on his birthday)
the leaves are turning
finally! the moon sighs and
turns away again
Chris Fronek
koi gulp the moon’s reflection
pellets scatter as my Dad
laughs with children
Elizabeth Martin
let us see the harvest moon—
in person please
not on Zoom
Bill McGee
fresh-cut grass
candlelight singing
the crowd sighs
Tamara Power-Drutis
visualizing the silver moon
portent of changes for fall
wearing a cloud mask
Bill Rumpf
I know you are there
the clouds won’t always mask you
moonlight exists inside
Max Schneider
Honorable Mentions (Youth)
rabbit of the moon—
is it cheesy where you are
like cheddar bunnies?
Max (age under 18)
dusk settles in
moonlight glows the darkened sky
peace at night
August (age 14)
