Ernesto Cardenal writes poems of praise throughout his poetic career, from Salmos (1969) to Cántico cósmico (1989). This essay examines some of the constant features of invention and style in a brief sampling. Particular attention is given to "Como en la rueda de un alfarero," where the expansions, compressions, omissions and additons to the source psalm give a key to the revolutionary Marxism of the poet as well as some sense of his distinctive voice.