Sorry For Your Troubles by Pádraig Ó Tuama

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I am not sure if following a review of books by Stephen Cottrell with one on a book by Pádraig is a good idea, as they are two of my favourite writers and the resulting love-in might get a bit tiresome for you, dear reader...

I also read this while away in Barcelona, and I think it was good to read these poems and reflections which are draw on a backdrop of pain and conflict alongside Cottrell's reflections on Easter and the resurection (in The Things He Said).

 This collection is hope-filled even as, and indeed precisely because, it is honest about the pain and hurt – and that is the essence of our Easter hope. Easter does not deny Good Friday but it does transcend it.

In this collection Pádraig is focusing on the work he has done helping people tell their stories about “the Troubles” in Northern Ireland. In some ways this makes this a collection rooted in the specifics of that context, however it also catches some much broader themes.

I think one of the uncomfortable feeling was whether it was appropriate to read the expressions of the impact of that violent conflict onto my own, really very minor, experiences of conflict (such as at work or Church). The question was whether such reading across would belittle the experiences within the book – but I think as long as you remain aware of that tension it has to be ok.

And with that tension in mind the whole collection seemed to question the new found love of “facilitated conversations” that Bishops in the Church of England think will sort out the mess they have got into over same-sex marriage. There is a desire to see this as an act of goodwill, but it is so hard not to view it as empty words and cynicism, how and when we will together be able to create the space of genuine integrity and honesty in order to actually talk to one another is not clear.

I will share just one of the poems here – because you need to buy the book and read them all!

W e a r e n o t t h e s a m e

We are not the same.

If we think we are

we end up playing games

where dignity's dependent

on some flimsy proof.

And dignity's not a game

that can be won or lost,

because we know this truth:

winners always define glory

and losers always suffer loss.

Rather, we are us.

Not because of anything

just because, just because

just because everything

less than this

demeans us.

Anything less than this

depletes us.

And in this space of sharing

there are various

types of people

loving people

loving people.

And while we're not the same

our intrinsic worth is equal.

We are less

if we accept

anything less than equal.