Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet, theologian, and conflict mediator, who brings interests in language, violence and religion to his work. He is the Poet Laureate and Theologian in Residence for the On Being project, and hosts the Poetry Unbound podcast. He was formerly the leader of the Corrymeela Community (Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation community), and is the author of four books, including Readings from the Book of Exile, Sorry For Your Troubles, In the Shelter: Finding a Home In the World and Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community.
In this episode not only does Pádraig share some thoughts of some of his favorite poets and other authors, but he also offers detailed advice for the beginning writer of poetry.
This is part two of a two-part episode. To listen to part one, click here.
It is mostly poets that I turn to for theology. — Pádraig Ó Tuama
Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode:
- Pádraig Ó Tuama, Readings from the Book of Exile
- Pádraig Ó Tuama, Sorry For Your Troubles
- Pádraig Ó Tuama, In the Shelter: Finding a Home In the World
- Pádraig Ó Tuama, Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community
- Pádraig Ó Tuama, Hymns to Swear By (Album)
- Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg, The Murmuring Deep: Reflections on the Biblical Unconscious
- Marie Howe, Magdalene: Poems
- Jericho Brown, New Testament
- Patrick Kavanaugh, Collected Poems
- Seamus Heaney, 100 Poems
- Lorna Goodison, Selected Poems
- Scott MacDougall, More than Communion
- Ephrem of Syria, Hymns on Paradise
- Ignatius of Loyola, Personal Writings
- Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
- Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
- Rumi, The Essential Rumi
- Hafiz, I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy
- Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems
- Sean Hewitt, Lantern
- Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems
- Mimi Khalvati, Afterwardness
- James Baldwin (with Richard Avedon), Nothing Personal
- Karl Barth, Dogmatics in Outline
- Terence McKenna, The Archaic Revival
There’s something about the space of loneliness and silence in writing something and wondering, ‘Will this stand the test of time?’ I know poets who won’t show a poem to anyone before it’s sat for a year, some editing, etc., but that they need it to distill, like whisky, that it needs to have that kind of a quality to it. — Pádraig Ó Tuama
Episode 92: Silence, Poetry, and Conflict Resolution: A Conversation with Pádraig Ó Tuama (Part Two)
Hosted by: Cassidy Hall
With: Carl McColman, Kevin Johnson
Guest: Pádraig Ó Tuama
Date Recorded: February 17, 2020
