Irish poet Pádraig Ó Tuama writes and reads poetry that speaks to the human condition

This NPR interview features Irish poet Padraig Ó Tuama, discussing his new anthology, "44 Poems on Being with Each Other," which explores the complexities of human connection. The conversation delves into Ó Tuama's selection process, highlighting a poem by Jim Moore ("Fear and Love") as an example of how poetry can address both joyful and painful experiences. Ó Tuama also discusses his own poetry collection, "Kitchen Hymns," explaining his concept of a "ghost mass" as a framework for exploring longing in the absence of traditional religious belief. A specific example is his section of poems titled "Do You Believe in God?", which examines the nature of faith and human connection. The interview concludes with a reading of one of Ó Tuama's poems.