St. John of the Cross: The Poems of St. John of the Cross

What does it mean to journey through the dark night of the soul? St. John of the Cross's The Poems of St. John of the Cross presents the complete poetry of the great sixteenth-century Spanish mystic regarded by many as Spain's finest poet. San Juan de la Cruz (1542-1591) was a Carmelite friar, reformer, and mystic whose passionate, ecstatic, and spiritual poems blend exquisite lyricism with profound mystical thought. His poetry explores the soul's journey to union with God through darkness, purgation, and ecstatic love, creating verse that is both intensely personal and universally resonant in its spiritual depth.

This dual-language edition presents John Frederick Nims's superlative translation of the complete poems, re-creating the religious fervor of St. John's art. The original Spanish from the Codex of Sanlúcar de Barrameda appears alongside facing English translations, allowing readers to experience both the music of the Spanish and the clarity of the English. The poems include his celebrated masterpieces "Dark Night of the Soul," "The Spiritual Canticle," and "The Living Flame of Love," as well as shorter lyrics. The work concludes with two essays—a critique of the poetry and a piece on the Spanish text—plus brief notes on individual poems.

For contemplative readers, St. John's poetry offers profound meditation on spiritual darkness, divine union, and the examined life. His work asks: How do we navigate spiritual darkness? What is the relationship between suffering and divine love? How does the soul unite with God? St. John's verse becomes a companion for spiritual seeking—teaching courage in darkness, surrender to divine love, and the conviction that the dark night leads to union with the Beloved.

What You'll Discover
Complete poems by St. John of the Cross, Spain's greatest mystical poet
Dual-language edition with Spanish original and English translation
John Frederick Nims's acclaimed translation capturing spiritual fervor
"Dark Night of the Soul," "The Spiritual Canticle," and "The Living Flame of Love"
Essays on the poetry and Spanish text, plus notes on individual poems
Sixteenth-century Christian mysticism of extraordinary lyrical beauty

St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) was born Juan de Yepes in Fontiveros, Spain. He joined the Carmelite order and worked with St. Teresa of Ávila to reform the Carmelites, enduring imprisonment and persecution for his efforts. During nine months of imprisonment in Toledo, he composed some of his greatest poems. His mystical writings—both poetry and prose commentaries—describe the soul's journey to union with God through the "dark night," a period of spiritual purgation and testing. He was canonized in 1726 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926. His poetry remains one of the supreme achievements of Spanish literature and Christian mysticism.

Perfect for: Readers of mystical and spiritual poetry, students of St. John of the Cross and Christian mysticism, contemplative readers exploring the dark night of the soul, those interested in Spanish poetry and literature, anyone drawn to passionate, ecstatic verse about divine union, readers of Catholic mysticism and Carmelite spirituality, students of Spanish Golden Age poetry, admirers of verse that illuminates the soul's journey to God through darkness and love.

Paperback edition. St. John's complete poems—offering contemplative wisdom on spiritual darkness, divine union, and the soul's journey through the passionate, ecstatic voice of Spain's greatest mystical poet.