Koi Ponds

The first thing tributes notice are the looming arches, their squared off structure, the elegant red against a landscape of green and blue. Stepping through the gates, there’s a change in the air, a different whisper to the wind as everything seems to quiet. Red maple leaves drift through the air, landing on the porches around empty shrines, bright against faded tatami mats. The path winds through the gardens, stone bridges lined with red fences arc over waterways that connect every pond. The koi dance in the water, swimming under lily pads and floating blossom petals. The fish are infinite in their variety, splashes of orange and white shine through the dark water, catching, reflecting, endlessly wonderful. They collect by the edges, mouths outstretched, wanting someone to feed them.