Poetry as a Common Language: Reading & Writing Poetry to Deepen Connection
Pádraig Ó Tuama, PhD
Distinguished Irish Poet | Theologian + Mediator | Poetry Unbound Podcast Host
Poetry has arisen in every human culture. And many of us have reached for a poem during a time of change: a birth, a death, a crisis, a pivot.
This workshop will look at poems that use common experiences and common language to make art that can — for a while — hold us together, even in the midst of all we cannot control.
Some who come may be well published poets; others may feel drawn to this even though they have never taken a writing workshop. All are welcome.
Through sharing stories, responding to prompts, and taking very close readings of particular poems, participants are invited into dialogue with themselves, with each other, and with the words on the page.
For some, certain lines from poems have stayed close during times of change – others may have felt a pull to write but not known where to begin.
Over four days at MEA’s Rising Circle Ranch in Santa Fe, this immersion creates time and space to sit with poems that have mattered to many people, to write in response, and to notice what conversations open between a lived life and the lines on the page.
Spend four days at our Santa Fe ranch with Pádraig Ó Tuama – poet, theologian, and host of On Being’s Poetry Unbound podcast.
You’ll read poems together. Not as puzzles to solve, but as invitations into conversation. You’ll bring the intelligence, pain, limitations, and hard-won wisdom of your own life into dialogue with the lines on the page, without needing to get them “right.”
You’ll write. Some prompts will invite you to respond to poems you’ve read; others will invite you to notice moments from your own life and put language around them. There’s no expectation of polish or performance — just the practice of reading and writing poems and seeing what happens.
And you’ll talk. In small groups, you’ll have chances to share what you’ve written (when you choose to), listen to others, and be in the kind of conversation that allows both the edited and unedited parts of yourself to be seen.
The rhythm is simple: reading, writing, and dialogue. There is time for walks and reflection on MEA’s 2,600-acre desert land, and space to let things settle rather than rushing toward answers.
Four days to connect with poems, language, and conversation
Through his Poetry Unbound work, Pádraig Ó Tuama has helped many people feel less threatened by poetry and more in conversation with it, rather than treating poems as puzzles to solve. Over four days in Santa Fe, you’ll spend time with poems that meet ordinary life — change, limitation, courage, not knowing — and you’ll write your own words in response.
You don’t need experience. Some participants write often – others haven’t picked up a pen in years. Through prompts, close readings, and small‑group dialogue, you’ll have the chance to notice what arises in you and to begin, or continue, a practice of reading and writing poems that you can carry into your own life.
You may leave with lines that stay with you, a clearer sense of how to be in conversation with poems (and with yourself), and connections formed in the honest, unperformed space of this small group.
This Workshop
Is For You If…
Bring yourself with the intelligence and the pain and the limitations and the wisdom of your own life into conversation with the lines of that poem.
~ Pádraig Ó Tuama ~
Meet
Pádraig Ó Tuama
Poet | Theologian | Conflict Mediator
Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet, theologian, and conflict mediator whose work explores how language shapes meaning, conflict, and connection. His recent books include Poetry Unbound: 44 Poems On Being Together, Kitchen Hymns, Being Here, and other acclaimed works.
His Poetry Unbound project – both a book and podcast – now reaches more than 10 million listeners. Reginald Dwayne Betts calls it “moments and meditations” that show why a single line of verse can stay with you. He previously led Corrymeela, Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation community, where he guided daily spiritual practice and facilitated community-building across divides.
Known for his grounded, human approach, Ó Tuama brings poetry, group dialogue, and theology into conversation in a way that invites openness rather than performance. His poems appear in Poetry Ireland Review, Academy of American Poets, Gutter, and America. He holds degrees from Maynooth and Queen’s University Belfast and a PhD from the University of Glasgow. He lives between Belfast and New York City.
Our Agenda at a Glance
Sunday:
4:00 PM: Check-in/Welcome
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
Monday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Tuesday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Wednesday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Graduation
6:30 PM: Celebration Dinner
Thursday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
9:30 AM: Checkout/Departure
Friday:
Saturday:
*Please note all times are estimates and not all “classroom activities” take place in the actual classroom. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.
Step into transformation in the high desert
Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.
Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.
PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs
Explore the ranch
on horseback
Our Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert, offering guided horseback riding for all experience levels through diverse terrains under the vast Southwest sky
You’ll experience highlights like:
Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity you can book once you arrive on the ranch. Whether you’re seasoned or brand new to horseback adventures, this guided experience lets you discover the ranch’s natural wonders alongside our gentle horses.
Your Workshop Also Includes:
When you have the right words, everything shifts.
For four days, you'll read poems that have mattered to people during times of change. You'll write your own words in response. And you'll spend time with others who are willing to look closely at what's on the page and what's in their lives.
This is a workshop about reading, writing, and dialogue. About bringing your imperfect, embodied life into conversation with poems. About being in a room with others without performing.
If this interests you, join us.
Book your spot today
Poetry as a Common Language: Reading & Writing Poetry to Deepen Connection
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a poet or have writing experience?
Not at all. Some who come may be well published poets; others may feel drawn to this even though they have never taken a writing workshop. All are welcome. The workshop is about spending time with poems and language, not about arriving with expertise.
Will I be required to share my writing with the group?
You’ll have opportunities to share, but you are always in control of what you reveal and when. The setting makes room for honest dialogue with yourself, with others, and with words on the page, but there is no requirement to perform or to be vulnerable in any particular way.
What will a typical day look like?
Days include close readings of poems that use common experiences and common language, writing prompts, and group conversation. There is also time for walks, quiet, and unstructured space on the land, so the reading and writing have room to settle rather than being rushed toward answers.
What should I bring or read in advance?
Just bring yourself and a willingness to pay attention. You don’t need to prepare or read anything beforehand; Pádraig will provide the poems used in the workshop, and notebooks or journals will be available if you don’t bring your own.
How is this different from other poetry workshops or classes?
This isn’t about learning techniques or analyzing poems for an exam. Pádraig approaches poems as conversations rather than puzzles, and the focus is on the practice of reading and writing poems and seeing what happens, especially in the space between what can and cannot be controlled.
What will I take home from this experience?
There is no set outcome. Many people leave with a handful of poems or lines that stay with them, a sense of how to be in conversation with poems and with their own lives, and memories of four days of shared reading, writing, and hospitality at the ranch.
How do I know if I qualify for financial aid?
We offer financial assistance on a needs-aware basis. Our goal is to make MEA accessible to those who may face financial barriers to attending. If you’re experiencing financial stress that could prevent your participation, we encourage you to apply for assistance.
What if I’m not sure if this workshop is right for me?
We’re happy to help. Book a free call with our advisor team, and we can help you decide based on your current life situation, goals, and timing. Book a call here.
Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors
Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.
Daniel Booz
Lucas Erie
Leslie Bartlett