2014 Moon Viewing Haiku Contest

The following are the winners from the 2014 Moon Viewing Haiku Contest held at the Seattle Japanese Garden on 6 September 2014 for its annual Moon Viewing Festival. These results were also posted to the Seattle Japanese Garden Community Blog.

Judged by Tanya McDonald, Michelle Schaefer, and Michael Dylan Welch



First Place


67 years of watching

the moon move past my window

but loneliness remains

        Rodney Smith


Second Place


black branches

and a young bat—

the moon’s warm-up act

        Ellen Sieh


Third Place


all ready for you:

people, music, koi, & birds—

hurry up, moon!

        Aleksandra Monk


Honourable Mentions

(in no particular order)


yes, it rains tonight,

and dark clouds cover the sky

yes, the moon is there

        Steve Lorton


floating on the pressure

of night, the moon escapes

the trees’ folded arms

        Jeff Collun


15th day—

the pond’s koi

eating the moon

        Mikiko Amagai


forest shadows

fill the ancient pond

deeper

darker

still . . .

no(h) moon

        John Tillotsom


we anticipate the moon’s shimmer

candle light brightens

the festive moon appears

        Lisa A. Miller


new moon

goldfish reflecting

on the pond

        Glenn Sassaman


latern fire

breathing on golden dragon leaves

moolit koi ripple a sudden greeting

        Hamai


flute wafting over water

     time and space

moon floats through cedar

        Jill Goodnight


moon above

pond below . . .

night oddly normal

        Aleksandra Monk


beautiful beggars

the koi seeking kibble miss

the moon’s reflection

        Halim Dusky