If this new book of excellent poetry doesn’t convince the Gov. of Hawai`i to name Kathryn Takara the state poet laureate, nothing will. She already has that title on the mainland.
– Ishmael Reed, Author, Ishmael Reed Publishing Company
The lyrical poetry of Pacific Raven mingles the ethereal with the corporeal. Exploring timeless philosophical questions, Takara grounds her ideals within precise images from the material and natural worlds, emphasizing humanity’s duty to serve as caretakers. Her descriptions of nature’s beauty in the Hawaiian islands particularly advocate an active role for humans in caring for nature and for one another.
– Mera Moore, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
In PACIFIC RAVEN, Kathryn Takara’s multi-sourced, compassionate poetic intelligence engages Hawaiian places, and a remarkable light and warmth is given off. These sonorous poems register the ways in which growth and dwelling – being attentive and responsive to the natural, social, and political economies of one’s surroundings – involves spiritual and creative movement. Takara has gathered within herself many artistic and philosophical traditions, and out of them fashioned a supple, personal and committed lyric line. Hail to thee, Pacific Raven!
– Paul Lyons, English Dept.Univ. of Hawai`i Chair, graduate school
A precious one is among us. A woman of rare beauty and power who writes poetry as if her very being depends on it. Her name is Kathryn. Her home is Hawai`i. Only a few on earth know of her thus far. That should change with the publication of this, her second book, for here is the pinnacle of her work to date. Here are poems of enlightenment. Of love. Of life. Here is a poet of sensuality so strong that you can taste and smell and hear her words as you see them on the page. Here is a poet of such spirituality that your soul will feel touched by hers. This is a book of such wonderful contrasts–of poems like “Backyard Smoke Bath” that are so haiku-like but are not haiku, of tiny little gems of poems and large major masterpieces like “Ode to Li Po,” of language so earthy yet so elegant, of deep rhythm that’s often unmetered in traditional senses, of the intimately personal and the cosmically universal sometimes in the same breath, of elemental nature and human family. This is also so very much a book of Hawai`i, of its life and its land, and the very life of the land. If you’ve never been to Hawai`i then come here first. It’s a better introduction than anything from the Hawai`i Visitors Bureau. If you’ve lived all your life in the islands then also come here. You’ll feel so at home. May as many as possible read these poems. For Kathryn is here. Kathryn is now. Like Nefertitti, the beautiful one has come.
– Bill Danks, author of “Prometheus Rebounds” and other works.
In her newest collection, Pacific Raven, Kathryn Takara Waddell is more than a poet; she is a mage wielding her wand filled with lyrical ink. She has the unique ability to weave Pacific island imagery with her Southern roots to create poems that slip you across the shores of Ka’a’awa to her “holy moments.” Kathryn’s poetry can haunt you.
– Allison Francis, Ph.D., English Dept. Chaminade Univ. Honolulu, HI