Cosmic Canticle cover

Cosmic Canticle

by Ernesto Cardenal

Long descriptive poems, collages of surreal scientific knowledge. Snap-shots of the origin of the universe, quantum physics, and the evolution of our solar system and life on Earth. Facts and images from biology, anthropology, history, theology, personal memory, and revolutionary ideals. The work takes on the very largest themes of existence in the form of a rapid cycling cut-up, the monologue of an old mind in an advanced state of knowledge.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?