The Songs of a Sinner

BOOK REVIEW

The Songs of a Sinner by Norm Cairns

This is a short collection of poems, mostly written in the form of sonnets, inspired by the author’s faith. Some is based on Biblical stories, some on other aspects of faith that deserve our attention.

Poetry fascinates me. My own thinking is that it is an especially difficult artform, framed by rhyme, rhythm, meter and structure, which make the challenge of creating even more difficult than it already is.

A poem is like a classical stone sculpture, intricately carved out with vision and planning, with the blank page being like the block of marble – at first glance, blank, cold, daunting, but as inspiration takes hold it becomes a mesmerizing thing of beauty. So all credit to any poet who puts pen to paper – I have tried and always failed.

Norm is honest in his introduction about his style and each composition is clearly carefully formed. He writes with honesty, humility and reverence. In fact I would guess, having read the poem in this collection called “Sonnets”, that Norm finds writing the process quite tortuous. The process of refining and forming words to such a degree but still allowing them the freedom to communicate the essence of what is on his heart.

But it is a wholly worthwhile process. The poems are thoughtfully written and thought-provoking for the reader – in fact it is a collection that is worth reading slowly and could work well reading one a day to use as a quiet time or a “thought for the day”. Each poem is also accompanied by a piece of inspiring artwork, to help illustrate the words.

I also much enjoyed the Afterword, a poem dedicated to the memory of Dr. Seuss, a man whose work introduced so many children to the love of words language. It certainly does him credit.

Thanks to the author for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review from Literary Titan

Songs of a Sinner, by Norman Cairns, is a reflective collection of poetry that combines biblical stories, religious musings, and personal confessions. The poems vary in form, from free verse to heroic sonnets, offering the reader a blend of narrative and lyrical explorations. Cairns grapples with themes of faith, sin, redemption, and the human struggle for spiritual meaning, all while infusing his work with references to Christian scripture and personal reflection.

One of the strengths of Songs of a Sinner is its honest grappling with faith and doubt. Cairns doesn’t shy away from admitting his own spiritual shortcomings. This straightforward admission of human imperfection resonated with me. It’s refreshing to see an author embrace their flaws in such a candid way, and it made me feel like I was on the same journey of introspection with him. The poems often feel like conversations—between the poet and himself, the poet and God, or the poet and the reader. The result is both intimate and relatable.

I was also intrigued by the way Cairns uses scripture as both a foundation and a lens through which he examines modern life. In poems like “The Carpenter from Galilee” and “Pontius Pilate,” Cairns reimagines biblical narratives, not just retelling familiar stories but infusing them with his own interpretations and questions. I appreciated how Cairns connects these ancient moments to broader themes of justice and morality. However, there were times when I felt the biblical retellings were more like summaries than deep dives into the emotional or spiritual weight of the events. I found myself wanting more layers of introspection in some of these moments. That said, one of the highlights of the collection for me was the sense of personal vulnerability that runs throughout. The theme of seeking forgiveness, whether through prayer or poetry, adds a reflective weight to the entire book.

Songs of a Sinner is an engaging collection for those who appreciate poetry grounded in faith and personal reflection. Cairns doesn’t claim to have all the answers, and that’s part of what makes this book feel authentic. If you’re someone who enjoys exploring themes of spirituality, sin, and redemption, or if you’re simply curious about how poetry can engage with faith, you will find this book rewarding. It is a thoughtful, heartfelt collection that invites readers to reflect on their own spiritual journeys, all while offering a glimpse into the mind of a poet wrestling with his beliefs.

Songs of a Sinner

By Norman Cairns Genre:

Poetry / Religious

Reviewed by Nikolas Mavreas

A book of lovingly crafted poems on Christian themes

In our free-wheeling age of emancipated poetry, new verse that comes with form and—dare we say it?— rhyme is always a welcome surprise. Norman Cairns’ collection, The Songs of a Sinner, has both—and a lot of feeling too.

The book is in two parts, the first of which is made up of poems in free form. These, never more than a page long, are paraphrases and elaborations on verses from the New Testament. The motivating chapters and verses of each poem are helpfully provided as footnotes.

In addition, every poem comes with an AI generated image or a scene from a classic painting. Some of the AI images have a unique, occasionally jarring effect. Acting as a break from the religious theme is an imitation of Emily Dickinson which is not far from the real thing.

Cairns’ preferred rhyme schemes are simple: the quatrain and the couplet. He is not above slant and visual rhyme or even giving up on a rhyme altogether if it proves too elusive or unnatural. Some rhymes catch you by surprise, like “nights” with “wilderness,” capitalizing on a simple likeness of the final consonant. The rhythm of Cairns’ lines can stumble at times, but his enthusiasm on the subject matter carries us along. Among my favorite stanzas are here, where Satan is trying to tempt Christ:

“Turn these stones to bread,” he said,

“Then hunger will be no more.”

 “Worship me instead!” he urged,

But Christ bows not to Hell’s spore.

He took Him to a mountain high,

Where horizon kissed the sky,

 Fortune and goods, a fountain,

“If you trust in me, rely.”
 

The second part of The Songs of a Sinner consists of sonnets, for which Cairns apologizes in his very charming introduction. But the apology is unjustified! The imposed structure of the sonnet proves an ally to Cairns, especially in his plaintive poem about writing a sonnet, with its pleading ending couplet, “May God protect me from the doggerel / That haunts the place in Hell where poets dwell.” Even in the sonnets, Cairns’ work is characterized by an unashamed sincerity and a measured rejection of artifice.

The books of the New Testament are great literature. In a modern American culture where most—especially the religious—are trying their best to remove the poetry from religion (literally, in the case of modern Bible translations), Norman Cairns’ effort is admirable and appreciated. This is a work of love and a gift for enthusiasts of contemporary religious verse.

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