As a refugee to Australia, raised by hard-working migrant parents, reading and writing were deemed stepping stones to becoming a doctor or lawyer. My family didn’t encourage such skills beyond what was necessary, but I have always appreciated the beauty and power of language. I could distinguish a well-written piece, but never had the confidence to write. However, after a weekend with the sublime Pádraig Ó Tuama, I’ve mustered up the courage to share this with you.
Pádraig is a renowned poet, theologian, conflict mediator and an exceptionally gifted speaker.
He can create the safest of spaces, where you feel held and brave in his presence.
Over two days, the ballroom at the White House was a vessel for laughter, shared stories and heartfelt conversation, not to mention alliteration, metaphors and rhyming couplets. It was a rigorous exploration of the poetic form and all the wonders that it holds for 42 lovers of poetry and those who are new to it.
An immersion into nuance and the ways language shapes the world and how we live in it.
Pádraig shared writing prompts for cultivating wonder in our lives, honing our curiosity, transforming the ordinary, transporting through time, applying deep listening skills, and shaping it all into stories and poetry.
Nathan Scolaro’s soothing voice brought the body into the program with movement and yoga, and our retreat chef Chase White nourished us with delicious meals.
We celebrated aliveness with an enchanting performance by cellist Josephine Vains, taking inspiration from the ideas of Wonder, Time and Openings and how they gently reveal themselves to us. Her historical Thomas Dodd (1800) cello had us travelling through bygone eras, from Bach to Metallica.
Clare Bowditch serenaded us with a “shitty first draft” of a song she had written.
The retreat concluded with Pádraig reading new works from his upcoming book: the joy-filled deliciousness, the pause, the inflection.
It was over too soon, we all wanted more! We left with our hearts full, our love for the world deeper and richer. We had been gifted an experience so precious and sacred, where the magic came from everyone.
Words mean something — use them well.
Here’s what a few others from the cohort had to say;
“What a decadent experience- from the building to the food and wine, the stunning cello performance and of course the delight of being able to be in space with one of my heroes, Pádraig Ó Tuama, it was a dream. Came away feeling as though I’d bathed my soul in sunlight.” - Bec
“Spent the weekend at the Small Giants Poetry Retreat, nuzzling my brain into the beautiful and bewildering world of words. It’s been such a privilege to be in the same room as one of the voices I wholeheartedly admire. To pay attention to language and its power. To sit with wonder, time, the ordinary and the stories of others. To dance between the mechanics and magic of poetry on a page. To revisit, rewrite and rewrite again. To listen. To share and be seen. To walk away knowing I’ve bridged that gap (even if not completely) between shyness and showing up as the poet I want to be.
It has been everything. It has been so much. “ - Lynette
More on Pádraig
A Conversation with Pádraig, Dumbo Feather Issue 59
Poetry Unbound season 7 starts on Monday, 22 May 2023
