The Facts of Life by Pádraig Ó Tuama
The Facts of Life
Pádraig Ó TuamaThat you were born
and you will die.That you will sometimes love enough
and sometimes not.That you will lie
if only to yourself.That you will get tired.
That you will learn most from the situations
you did not choose.That there will be some things that move you
more than you can say.That you will live
that you must be loved.That you will avoid questions most urgently in need of
your attention.That you began as the fusion of a sperm and an egg
of two people who once were strangers
and may well still be.That life isn’t fair.
That life is sometimes good
and sometimes even better than good.That life is often not so good.
That life is real
and if you can survive it, well,
survive it well
with love
and art
and meaning given
where meaning’s scarce.That you will learn to live with regret.
That you will learn to live with respect.That the structures that constrict you
may not be permanently constricting.That you will probably be okay.
That you must accept change
before you die
but you will die anyway.So you might as well live
and you might as well love.
You might as well love.
You might as well love.
KEEP READING
SHARED WITH GRATITUDE
This poem appeared in Sorry For Your Troubles by Pádraig Ó Tuama, published by Canterbury Press Norwich, 2013. (Available direct from Canterbury Press Norwich • Also on: Amazon • Bookshop)
DESCRIPTION
“One of the most engaging voices contemporary spirituality in is that of the Irish poet, Pádraig O’Tuama. This second poetry collection arises out of a decade of his hearing stories of people who have lived through personal and political conflict in Northern Ireland, the Middle East and other places of conflict. These poems tell stories of individuals who have lived through conflict: their loves and losses, their hope and generosity. One poem, ‘Shaking hands’ was written when Pádraig witnessed the historic handshake between Queen Elizabeth II and Martin McGuinness, who has since used the poem publicly. The phrase ‘Sorry for your troubles’ is used all over Ireland. It comes directly from an Irish phrase, yet Irish has no word for ‘bereavement’ – the word used is ‘troiblóid’. So the phrase would be better translated ‘Sorry for your bereavements’. With this in mind, this new book speaks evocatively about a time when thousands of people lost their lives and many thousands more lived through the searing pain of grief.” (Source)
ABOUT PáDRAIG Ó TUAMA
Pádraig Ó Tuama received a BA (Div) from Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, and an MTh from Queens University Belfast. Ó Tuama is the author of the poetry collections Kitchen Hymns (Copper Canyon Press, 2025); Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community (Canterbury Press, 2017); Sorry for Your Troubles (Canterbury Press, 2013); and Readings from the Books of Exile (Canterbury Press, 2012), all published in the United Kingdom. He is also the editor of the anthology Poetry Unbound (W…. (more)
Read more poems by Pádraig Ó Tuama • Find books by this poet on Amazon • Bookshop • Follow on Instagram • Twitter • Threads • Website • Or view my library
ENDNOTES
- Explore other works in pursuit of: change • survival • love • Or browse the index
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thoughtfulbread03d4bf93dd
This felt like a warm hug. Might’ve been the most comforting thing I’ve read this year🥲