Critical Commentary
“Every page of Cairns conveys the sacral, as revealed by the indwelling spirit of deserts, glacial fjords, kittiwakes, bald eagles, bears, and pine forests. In so doing, these poems draw upon the integrative wisdom of mystics and Native Americans, as well as the poet’s own. Whether river running or canyoneering, his soul aspires, like “brother canyon wren and sister whip snake,”--to awaken always to the first day.”
-- Reg Saner, author of Climbing into the Roots, Essays on Air, Red Letters, So This is the Map and The Four-Cornered Falcon, winner of the Colorado Book Award.
"How did he ever get that much light into this small book? Cairns is the kind of joy bears would want if they were human. Chris Hoffman does not write about things, he writes in things. Dwelling comes first. Poems happen afterwards.
"This is not a poet whose narcissism stands in the way of his song. He is humbled by magic. For the sake of everything, he disappears. That’s why his poetry is trustworthy. As with the ancients, he dispenses nectar freely because he doesn’t know what else to do. This is his message: the wilder we get, the gentler we become.
"Just by eating such words, filaments of luminosity might sprout from your skull. I recommend this book."
— Evan Hodkins, Director of the School of Alchemy
"Like a shaman or bard of old, his thoughts and imagery can evoke a myriad of life’s experiences in a few rich, moving lines. This book is a journey you will be delighted to share."
— Francesca Ciancimino Howell, author of Making Magic with Gaia:
Practices to Heal Ourselves and Our Planet.
"A priest of desert and river, Chris Hoffman paints rich and satisfying imagery with his reverent pen. For those who relish the timeless canyon-covered landscape of the Southwest, this collection will be read with delight."
— Cass Adams, editor of The Soul Unearthed: Celebrating Wildness and
Personal Renewal Through Nature
"Chris Hoffman's poems capture both the spiritual essence and day-to-day nitty gritty of life in the canyons."
— Rick Medrick, E.D., Executive Director Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars and Breaking Through Adventures