The two hundred or so haiku in this collection are well presented in pocket-sized format, with a glossy cover in full colour using a phtotgraph by David W Emley, of the leaves of a Katsura tree, which gives the collection its title. The Katsura tree, the largest Japanese deciduous tree, changes its leaf colour with the seasons, reflecting the varied experiences and changes in human life.
Doreen's love and understanding of nature (she has written four books on wildlife) comes through strongly and is emphasised by her keen observation of the natural world and its inescapable links with the human condition. Examples I especially like are:
blue tits
from plum tree to plum tree
the blue and the mauve
and
birdsong
on winter's bleakest day
I feel ashamed
But apart from these clear links with nature throughout the haiku, there is a good sprinkling of senryu in the collection. For example:
I lose my earring
between England and New York
the stewardess looks
This conveys a picture of an ever-contracting little world where small domestic events span continents. The following haiku allows the reader to share in and explore meanings:
after a long walk
brushing seeds from my clothes -
there are possibilities
Slightly enigmatic, one wonders if the long walk mentioned in this refledctive haiku allowed the writer to reach a conclusion, and the reader may reflect on similar situations in his/her own life. In the senryu below there is a lightness of touch, together with understanding for man's imperfections and common humanity that is often the hallmark of good haiku:
through the prison bars
nobody minds some sunshine
slipping in and out
Perhaps the best way for me to conclude is to leave you with another favourite of mine that further underlines our close links with nature. It has a simplicity and directness, which again is often to be found in a good haiku:
in a line outside
the school gates
saplings

Ron Wollard