This is a review of Christina Sng’s book, “Catku,” from Allegra Press. To check out the book, and to purchase it, visit: http://www.allegrapress.net/

Though they say there are dog people and cat people, I believe that all of us see something special in cats: their individuality, their mysterious behavior, their love (given on their own accord), and much more.

Catku by Christina Sng is a celebration of and exposition into the lives we share with cats, and the inner lives of these felines through a mixture of light, meditative, and poignant haiku. There are standout haiku on every page, but the following are my favorite three from the book:

a world
of possibilities
kitten in a box

This points to several things: the possibilities of the power of innocence, the possibilities of the kitty tearing things up, and also imagining how the kitty will look in its future. Also, this haiku could be saying that our world is like a kitten in a box. It gives a lot for the reader to imagine and to ponder over. Notice also the great sense of sound with the use of “o” which gives the reader a strong sense of wonder.

meandering stream
our cat languorously
grooms herself

I love how the connection between the two parts of the haiku make one think if the stream is actually grooming its surroundings through its relaxed pace. People step on, spit on, and do whatever they like to Mother Earth, and the stream is in a sense cleaning and soothing the land. But on the other end, maybe it can be seen as the stream constantly purifying itself through its own movement. The sense of sound in this haiku is also intriguing, with a focus on “ea” in the first line, and “o” in the last two lines. The sound in the first line calls attention to the stream itself, and the sound in the last two lines lend to the slow pace of the stream.

white lilies
the empty pet bed
in the corner

Maybe the poet was sitting in her living room, and saw white lilies in her garden, and then turned to the white, empty pet bed in the room. White lilies commonly symbolize innocence and purity, and the empty pet bed gives a sharp contrast. This haiku implies that one of the poet’s pets died not long ago, and seeing the white lilies maybe brought back memories of her pet, in all its sweetness and emotional fullness. The haiku could also be a reflection of where the pet has gone in the afterlife, and that maybe there is a sense of hope in seeing the white lilies. Whatever the haiku brings to the mind of the reader, it has a clear mood that can be felt palpably.

My recommendation would be to read this book alone with your cat, sipping some tea. The haiku are quite striking, comedic, and at times rather emotional, so it is good to give yourself space to read it.

– Nicholas Klacsanzky (Ukraine)

the scent of acacia
carries it through the evening . . .
train whistle

© Margherita Petriccione (Italy)

The scent of acacia is sweet, and even candy-like. Acacia usually blossoms in early spring, and when one smells acacia, a sense of hope and renewal can be felt. Traditionally, this tree is found all over the world and especially in Australia. It has diverse mythological roots (playing an important role in both Egyptian and Judeo-Christian lore) and has been used as a source of medicine and incense. Acacia blossoms are also often associated with honor, resurrection, and immortality, and chaste or friendly affection.

The second line leaves a mystery for the reader—some suspense. The thought of the scent of acacia carrying something is intriguing in itself. The ellipsis is interesting in its use, as it shows the continuation of something being carried. The bright scent of acacia is contrasted by the evening and sets up the context for the third line.

The shrill sound of the train whistle is a sharp contrast with the scent of acacia. Train whistles can bring about many feelings: longing, nostalgia, a sense of distance, sadness, and more. With the mention of evening, I believe the train whistle represents more of a nostalgia or longing. What the nostalgia or longing is for is not presented in the haiku (which is good, as haiku writers like to leave mysteries for their readers), but one can guess that the poet misses someone deeply.

But by the scent of acacia carrying the train whistle (either physically through vibration, or metaphorically), there is a sense of renewal or even immortality of something or someone. This causes the haiku to be bittersweet in mood with the juxtaposition.

Looking at the haiku in terms of sound, the “s” sound runs through it strongly, which shows perhaps the wind and the scent of acacia passing because of it. Also, the “k” sound in “acacia” and “carries” brings more weight and starkness to the senses of the reader.

This haiku creates a poignant atmosphere that can be palpably felt. A sense of loss and renewal together, reading this haiku gives a real sense of life.

– Nicholas Klacsanzky (Ukraine)

bells . . .
in the silence of the church
an ant

campane …
nel silenzio della chiesa
una formica

(Italian translation by the author)

© Francesco Palladino (Italy)

The first thing that got me thinking while I read this haiku was how bells were supposedly ringing in the church, and yet somehow the church was silent. Then I understood that ants can’t really hear. They can perceive vibrations created by sound, but not really hear in the sense that humans do.

Anyways, the ant is in the church for some reason. Did the bells call to him, like he was attracted to the vibrations the bells created? Probably not. The ant seems to be just there.

“Silence,” in the context of the haiku, has several implications. It implies that the ant is taking part in reverence or prayer. Also, it could imply that no one is in the church, except the ant. This reminds me of Saint Francis of Assisi, who encouraged animals to attend his services and sermons. Saint Francis even preached the gospel to birds when people would not listen to him. In this sense, the haiku could be reminding us of the universal spirit in all of us, even in an ant.

And maybe there is a connection between the ant and the calling of the bells. The ant, though small and not seen as worthy of being in a church, is showing humans how they should be: worshiping God and being spiritual. Though, of course, the ant is unaware that it is making this impression. In haiku, a common theme is that by things being as they are, the greatest truths are shown.

And finally, maybe the ant is representative of humans. Maybe we’re just ants in the eyes of God—small servants in a huge, divine play.

Now let’s look at the technical side of it. The ellipsis was used, to my knowledge, to show the swing of the bells and the continuation of their sound.

The pacing of the lines is quite interesting. It makes both the first and last line starker than usual by being so short.

In terms of sound, the letter “l” in “bells” and “silence” emphasizes a contrast and adds to the serious mood.

With overtones of religious and spiritual commentary, this haiku presents an observation through engaging pacing, sound, punctuation, and imagery.

– Nicholas Klacsanzky (Ukraine)