by aleks
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| SJG • 9/17/16 - the gate entrance |
We had another fabulous Moon Viewing celebration last Saturday, complete with traditional Japanese tea ceremonies in the Shoseian Tea House, bento dinners in the courtyard and Tatueuchi Community Room + floating lanterns launch on the pond at dusk.
From our moon viewing platform we were delighted with haiku readings by Michael Dylan Welch from
Haiku Northwest and music from several artists:
• Marcia and Kuniko Takamura on koto
• James Jennings on Shakuhachi
• Gretchen Yanover on electric cello
• Gary Stroutsos on bamboo flute
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| SJG • 9/17/16. Photo by Tony |
It was a cloudy evening, with prediction of 70% rain for the start of the fest, but luckily we only got a slight drizzle somewhere half-way trough. No moon, alas. But that's OK: the ceremony does not require the moon to be present, as waiting for it is sufficient to celebrate this dating back to the 8th century
tradition of honoring the autumn harvest moon.
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| SJG • 9/17/16. Photo by Tony |
2016 Seattle Japanese Garden Moon Viewing Haiku Contest
Judged by Tanya McDonald and Michael Dylan Welch (from 126 entries)
First Place:
Lying in bed,
moonlight through the window,
my second blanket
Kaitlin Powell
Second Place:
the moon viewing
even the fish
need umbrellas
Anonymous (please let us know your name by emailing WelchM@aol.com)
Third Place:
the pond’s still surface
reflects the full moon
reflecting the sun
Kelvin Kleinman
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| SJG • 9/17/16 - tea ceremonies in the Shoseian Tea House. Photo by Tony |
Adult Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
silver reflection
drifting on the water
faint as a caress
Rachel Burgoon
sun descending moon ascending
in a garden by a pond
a young boy looks up
Mahdi Mohammad Bagher
the moon is high
and so am I
the stars are out
B. St. J.
The moon is full,
and I am full too,
full of memories
Robbie Emmet
Small moons among us
The artificial lights flicker
The full moon shrouded
Rebecca Church
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| SJG • 9/17/16 - Gretchen Yanover on electric cello |
The pond’s hungry koi
Nibbling for their evening meal
Eat nothing but moon
Tem
Again the night is dark.
With flashlights and white balloons
let’s make our own moons.
Mata tsuki nai.
Hai-tekku wo tsukaite
tsuki wo shimas
Maurice Varon
Moon viewing in the park
I slip on a rock
Ah, the koi
Rodney Smith
drifting fog
an acquaintance
I’d rather not meet
Sky Ramirez
Even if you claim
it’s not a competition
no one “views” the sun
R. Thursday
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| SJG • 9/17/16. Photo by Tony |
Youth Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
Look up to the sky
the moon smiles to you happily
to say hi to you
Olivia Near, age 10
The koi swim around
like a circle beautiful
as the moon
Olivia Near, age 10
Shadows on the sky
are like ghosts dancing on the moon
that are saying hello
Olivia Near, age 10
peaceful quiet dark
it drives away nightmares the moon
I gaze at the moon
Isaac Kim, age 8
Dear moon
you are so beautiful
I love your moonlight
you make me smile every night
Eliza Kim, age 5
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| SJG • 9/17/16 - Gary Stroutsos on bamboo flute. Photo by Tony |
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| SJG • 9/17/16 |
