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
Pádraig Ó Tuama with Carl McColman in Northern Ireland, Summer 2010

 

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
Featured image photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash.