2007 Moon Viewing Haiku Contest

The following are the winners from the 2007 Moon Viewing Haiku Contest held at the Seattle Japanese Garden on 25 August 2007 for its annual Moon Viewing Festival. This was the first time I had proposed a haiku contest for this event.

Judged by Michael Dylan Welch

First Place

strolling with the shadows

lanterns sway

moon, ride the breeze to me

Julie Malie

Second Place

Beckoning moonlight

A crow perches silently

Giving a loud cry

Lada Vishtak

Third Place

One boat on the lake

Slowly wanders back to shore

Thwarted by a ripple

Megumi Page

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order by last name)

Flash of gold beneath

I peer from the water’s edge

Fish, please don’t be coy!

Eve Enslow (special mention for humor)

Many come to seek

an audience with the moon

will our guest arrive?

Eve Enslow

Friends in the garden

Together on a blanket

Enjoying the moon

Theresa Kanter

Serenity all around

Together as a family we stroll

And await the beautiful moon

Claudine Koyama

Hidden in the clouds

Frightened by the waiting crowd

The moon is shy tonight

Keiko Page

Ducks

settled for the night

boats float by

Gwen Stamm

the willow weeps

the moon rises

slowly

Gwen Stamm

weathered bench—

one red maple leaf

and a plastic bottle

Joan Stamm

ducks and paper boats

sailing through

reflections

Joan Stamm

clouds darken, thoughts clear

even as I wait my turn

at the telescope

Greg Watson

lanterns on the water

I am a boy in summer

and there are fireflies

Greg Watson

Judge’s Poem

the moon tonight

a reluctant visitor—

ducks in the lily pads

Michael Dylan Welch