Book excerpt: Katharos (Greek for “clean, pure”) is a collection of poems portraying how poetry can become a cathartic experience to writers and readers alike. Exploring the multiple facets of being human in his everyday life, Paloma writes about various themes such as love, life, friendship, and nature. Katharos depicts the destructive imagery of fire as a metaphor for rampaging emotions left unchecked. However, utilized with care and creativity, the same destructive fire can purify and give life.