The Psalms of Struggle and Liberation

poem by Cardenal

Also known as: “Salmos”

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July 13, 2026

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Ernesto Cardenal's The Psalms of Struggle and Liberation is a collection of poems that reimagines the biblical psalms. These poems condemn modern injustices and reflect the tension between Cardenal's revolutionary fervor and his religious beliefs.1

The Psalms of Struggle and Liberation is a key work by Cardenal, a Nicaraguan poet and priest known for his involvement in the Sandinista revolution and his connection to liberation theology. Liberation theology is a Christian movement focused on improving the lives of the poor and oppressed through social and political action. Cardenal's poetry often expresses this commitment to social justice, viewing biblical themes through the lens of contemporary struggles.123

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Ernesto Cardenal
Poetry collections of the 1960s
The poems in Salmos (1964; The Psalms of Struggle and Liberation) represent Cardenal’s rewriting of the biblical psalms of David and condemn modern-day evils. These poems, like many of his others, express the tension between his revolutionary political fervor and his religious faith. The book culminates in an apocalyptic view…
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The poems in Salmos (1964; The Psalms of Struggle and Liberation) represent Cardenal’s rewriting of the biblical psalms of David and condemn modern-day evils. These poems, like many of his others, express the tension between his revolutionary political fervor and his religious faith. The book culminates in an apocalyptic view…
Read More