Ernesto Cardenal — Give Ear to My Words (Psalm 5)

<p>When dictatorial leaders use talk of peace as a smokescreen to conceal their plans for war and  destruction, what are the people to do? Believe in a vision of peace and freedom that is muscular, sturdy, and protective — and pray that it holds, as Ernesto Cardenal does in his poem “Give Ear to My Words (Psalm 5),” translated by Jonathan Cohen.</p><p>Ernesto Cardenal (1925–2020) was a Catholic priest and poet who was born in Nicaragua. From 1979 to 1988, he served as the Minister of Culture there. Cardenal was the author of several volumes of poetry, including <a href="https://onbeing.org/programs/ernesto-cardenal-give-ear-to-my-words-psalm-5/#media"><i>Pluriverse</i></a>, <a href="https://onbeing.org/programs/ernesto-cardenal-give-ear-to-my-words-psalm-5/#media"><i>Zero Hour</i></a>, <a href="https://onbeing.org/programs/ernesto-cardenal-give-ear-to-my-words-psalm-5/#media"><i>Apocalypse</i></a>, and <a href="https://onbeing.org/programs/ernesto-cardenal-give-ear-to-my-words-psalm-5/...