Reviews

Takahashi considers himself a Zennist first, a poet second: he claims his philosophy is more important to him than anything he writes. His poems are essentially the expression of his Zen, and many of them read like koans , full of seeming paradox (``I need nothing, not even life'') and may be difficult even for the reader versed in Zen. Yet, obscurity is more than compensated for by Takahashi's strong imagery (``Sunbeams, spokes of a stopped wheel,/ Blaze through the leaves of a branch''), and his ability to identify with nature and precisely render the experience of a particular bird, beast, or flower. The nature poems have a universal appeal, and Stryk's excellent introduction and interview with the poet make this a valuable addition to larger collections. David Sowd, Stark Cty. District Lib., Canton, Ohio