Soul Make a Path Through Shouting

by Cyrus Cassells

Enriched by his own world travels, Cassells draws with equal ease from Greek mythology, children's rhymes, and African-American oral traditions. The result is an hypnotic and rhapsodic interweaving of dramatic narratives forming a single whole. "Cassells's writing strikes a balance between exquisite language and an empathy for anyone who is forced to suffer."-- Publishers Weekly

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

Reviews

[Nicole Gervasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book by chance when I was something like sixteen or seventeen, one of the last remaining used bookstores in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The store was stationed in a basement that would soon be flooded out of business as a result of hurricane aftermath ravaging the Delaware and everything on its coastline.

It could be said that this gaunt volume conceived the faith I now have in my love affair with poetry. In my memory, it is one of the first books I read by a contemporary, hitherto unknown author that resonated with my life experiences. Racism, history, urban upbringing, loss, disease, queer sexuality, and as always, resilience. Cassells' Soul Make a Path through Shouting continues inspiring my own poetry and, when necessary, galvanizing my incentive to amble up and down the rickety stairs that life has more than once built for me. Whenever I pick it up now, I feel like I'm locking hands with an old friend. Thanks.

[Maia Duerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

powerful poetry that blends landscapes of the soul and justice...

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fascinating to read this on the heels of Gregory Pardlo's "Digest". Both books employed, with great deftness, rarely used vocabulary to stunning effect. I imagine most readers will be like me in that they'll have to look up many of the words, but overall it was definitely worth it. Reading this collection by Cyrus Cassells reminds me of reading Gerard Manley Hopkins—the poems are worth more with each read, and they sing—How Cassells sings with directness as well as coloratura. It is inspiring that Cassells writes both of "the bitter and the blossoming". I wonder if other readers who are not as likely to go to the dictionary found the rarely used words frustrating, however. Bravo, Cyrus!

[John Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely volume, with gorgeous poems stressing the need for art and love amidst the Holocaust, political imprisonment, and AIDS.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most moving poem for me was the 10-part poem "Life Indestructible" for Etty Hillesum, a young Dutch Jewish woman who was killed in Auschwitz. She kept diaries illustrating her spirituality and intimacy with God, even in the face of her hideous circumstances, which serve as the source material for this poem.

[Cyrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner of the William Carlos Williams Award
Finalist for the Lenore Marshall Prize
Finalist for the AWP Poetry Prize
One of Publishers Weekly Best Books of 1994

Still my favorite among my five books.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, read it for a second time in the past couple of weeks.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyrus Cassells has been one of my favorite poets ever since I was blessed to be able to take two classes from him as an undergrad. He never disappoints.

[ak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will need to reread when I have more time to digest.