"In case you
missed it, poetry got lost in the abyss of egoism and self promotion. It was
pimped out by people who never made it to Homecoming Queen and used as a
soapbox to urban stardom. Cathy has found it again, tamed it, cleaned it up
and made it real for all of us poets who were looking for something we could
all relate to. Cathy is the Maya and Nikki of our generation, and Wrapping
Thoughts is packed to the page with true thoughts we all have felt. From the
meaningful description of the strength of her grandmother to the Haitian
Sonogram, I hope this first book by Cathy will not be her last. This is an
important voice. Listen up."
Crystal Senter Brown, Author of Doubledutch
www.crystalsenterbrown.com
"Wrapping Thoughts Beneath Emotive Rain"
demonstrates the arch of when a poet is in love with her art and has come to
appreciate life to the fullest. Cathy starts off by giving birth to the word
in her very first selection, then refuses to let her spirit die, no matter
the obstacles she's faced.
As awe-inspiring are the moments she revels in her own beauty, her native
Haiti and the people she has loved. "Wrapping Thoughts" are intimate
when needed and fiery enough to shelter both the writer and her readers.
--Guichard Cadet, author of “The Mask of Flipside”
Cathy Delaleu refreshes the poetry landscape with her beautifully
crafted Wrapping Thoughts Beneath Emotive Rain. Delaleu bravely takes on
a lyricist's heart-journey, exposing questions, demanding answers,
thoughtfully and playfully sheltering us with her verses. A cornucopia of
hopes, dreams and realities are wrapped in each section. One can't
help but open the mind and the heart to this wonderful and intimate first
work of poetry.
--Ella Turenne, author of Revoliyson=Revolution
As a
deliciously refreshing collection by accomplished poet Cathy Delaleu,
"Wrapping Thoughts Beneath Emotive Rain" teases our 5 senses with each page
turn.
Delaleu stays true to her Haitian heritage and keeps her family close in
poem "Bowl of Gathered Thoughts" as she states, "Here Mom / Throw your
childhood stories in this wide bowl / Fill it up with your Haitian history /
I know Grandma is not here anymore / But I can still taste her pineapple
kisses tattooed on your cheeks. . ."
A personal favorite "Kinky Roots and Rapture" seduces the reader with
eloquent metaphors and similes: "If my garden is dry it's because you didn't
finger it / You forgot to take a peek / To fill its soil with honey dust. .
."--leaving the reader moist in all the right places.
A contemporary voice and traditional style, Delaleu has delivered the
long-awaited collection to the literary world. "Wrapping Thoughts Beneath
Emotive Rain" poetically journeys and contrasts NYC, Haitian, and California
customs; human sensuality, existence, and importantly purpose.
-- Stephen Earley Jordan, author of Beyond Bougie
Wrapping Thoughts Beneath Emotive Rains by Cathy
Delaleu is a beautifully written book of poetry.
Ms. Delaleu is very diverse in her poems. They are thought-provoking, poems
of love, family, and darkness. She uses her Haitian background to add some
flava of her culture
and incorporates an effective use of metaphors to describe things or
feelings.
With 152 pages of poems, they are all so different. The range of the poems
allowed me to hear her voice and feel the emotions of her style through this
artistry of the written word.
If you love to read a variety of poetry, then I would highly recommend
Wrapping Thoughts Beneath Emotive Rain. This is a book that may be read and
appreciated for years.
--Reviewed by S.E. Koshi aka Lady Flava
APOOO BookClub
Dear
Cathy,
I just looked through your website. It is fabulous and really well put
together. Impressive. The poems I read were good too. Perhaps when I am next
on the East coast I will get a chance to see you perform.
Be well
--Chris Abani, author of Becoming
Abigail