Slow Pilgrim: The Collected Poems

by Scott Cairns, Gregory Wolfe (Introduction), Richard Howard (Preface)

Scott Cairns has carefully preserved every poem he’s ever published that he cares to preserve. He’s also added previously unpublished work, spanning three decades. A careful introduction by Gregory Wolfe and tribute preface by Richard Howard make this the ultimate collection of Cairns’ work.

Genres: Poetry, Christian, Literature

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2015

Reviews

[James Korsmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book a few months ago, but I've been procrastinating on writing a review because I simply don't know how to approach it. It doesn't seem that anything I say will be adequate. Simply, this book is stunning. Cairns is deeply insightful, and he crafts beautiful language. But it's never ostentatious or unnecessarily flowery. Cairns is a Christian of the Orthodox persuasion, and he evidences a deeply held and very authentic faith. He lays bare the struggle that many of us feel with our own faith, and he shows how we can stumble our way toward God while holding firm to God's gracious grasp of us. This collection is simply outstanding. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religious but very good.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I read poems by Malcolm Guite in his book "Waiting of the Word", I'd never heard of Scott Cairns. Two of Cairns's works which Guite quoted grabbed me immediately: "Nativity", not included in this book, & "Annunciation", which is included. Both were originally in his collection, "Idiot Psalms". Guite describes Cairns thus: "...a contemporary poet, Scott Cairns, an American Greek Orthodox. He has been crafting a body of work that is both completely modern, full of the particularities of the here and now, and also traditional, drawing richly on the liturgy, theology and deep understanding of archetype and symbol that are part of his Orthodox inheritance. He share with John Donne the ability to compress thought and feeling together, to juxtapose the disparate, to rekindle an old image or metaphor until it burns for us entirely new..."

That is a very good summary of the poet of "Slow Pilgrim: The Collected Poems". At times Cairns is extremely earthy, at others a bit heavy and depressing. Some poems have a humorous flare, while others are profound. I found it necessary to re-read his work, even several times, silently or aloud, to finally catch the drift. I'd describe his writing as almost lyrical, often with a rush of ideas cascading through several verses. His erotic poems are eloquent.

[John Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, spiritual, and intimate, as is expected of Cairns.

[Aarik Danielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the true greats of our time. This book is a baptism. Cairns offers us language for every ecstasy, great and small, while fully acknowledging that every gift is ultimately ineffable.

[Ben Palpant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful in so many ways. The section, “Idiot Psalms” is worth the price of admission!