Raven’s Echo by Robert Davis (review)

Reviewed by: Raven's Echo by Robert Davis Frederick White (bio) Raven's Echo by Robert Davis Hoffman University of Arizona Press, 2022 WHEN WE ENCOUNTER Raven from Tlingit artist and poet Robert Davis Hoffman's perspective, the artist engages in a modern recasting of Raven's power and influence from a traditional Tlingit and settler fusion. He quotes "Raven's rhythm" in the preface, claiming these words "are Raven's echo," and his rhythmic movement is "Raven's heartbeat" (x). He explains the context of writing those lines: at that point in his life, he viewed Raven as "an unpredictable and restless Trickster who intervenes in human affairs, often making life miserable, plagued with fear and uncertainty" (xi). Raven is also the creator, though journeying through the collection, there is not much reverence for him, but that is apropos for most tricksters. In "Raven tells stories," irreverence for Trickster is immediate as the speaker prays "Raven, gather us to that dark breast, / . . . / keep us distracted from all this blackness" (7). Typically, it is always wise not to trust anything Tricksters say, but we see that greatly emphasized as the poem ends. The speaker describes the lack of hope Raven offers and also references the physical traits of his tongue, saying one cannot trust anything that comes out of Raven's mouth. The imagery instantiates alienation from self, from the tribe, and from the creator, but it is hard to reconcile that such words could be Raven's echo and that the speaker is merely echoing what Raven has uttered. While tricksters are often unaware of their actions or words and their impact on creation and humanity, they are at least cognizant of themselves: it is unlikely such words come from their own mouth about themselves. In "Saginaw Bay," very basic Indigenous themes emerge, including missionary colonialism, "I've heard of men in black robes who came" teaching the Tlingit about God and how those who heard listened, indicating that the message from the missionaries impacted the Tlingit culture forever (13). The loss of land and the environment emerge as well when he addresses the logging industry's impact on the environment and how the sky was full of trees to the horizon; but now it is only a treeless horizon with the scars of stumps everywhere (16). We see the extent of the destruction of Tlingit culture and environment echoed in "Soul Catcher" where nature is cognizant of End Page 157 mistreatment because trees know "know how easy it is to disappear" (21). The environment's sentience bespeaks its own demise which the Tlingit could not discern until it was too late. There are very vulnerable moments when Hoffman addresses his family. In "Daddy," we find a sense of wonder as the speaker describes a faded memory: "Our eyes are full of each other" though the memory is fading: he can only partially recall a familiar tune he is whistling, and he almost missed hearing his Tlingit name as they quietly spoke to each other (28). Yet another poem dealing with his father, "Game," reveals a tenderness that anticipates positivity. But what occurs is alienation from both humanity and nature as he listens to his father and his companions discuss hunting stories. The poem ends with the speaker awakening to a rifle shot and can only vocalize the sound of a deer as his dad and others laugh at him. As in most Indigenous literature, alcoholism is a common theme. In "What the crying woman saw," "Outgrowing ourselves," "He was a dancer," and "Rock of Ages" a surprisingly sympathetic tone arises, that such behavior is not only understandable but acceptable given the circumstances, although you can hear mainstream commentary "dismissing the shameless drunk" (67). Alcoholism is a difficult reality across Indigenous nations and communities, but Hoffman offers hope in returning to traditional knowledge and practices to overcome the trap of alcohol. This two-part collection starts with a prayer, invoking Raven to gather them to his dark heart, and ends with a confession where the speaker divulges his desire to emulate a beloved uncle who encourages the speaker to stop fighting so hard because only then will the speaker...