“Sweet Darkness” — written and read by David Whyte @onbeing

Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

This poem is featured in David Whyte’s On Being conversation with Krista, “Seeking Language Large Enough.” Listen here: onbeing.org/programs/david-whyte-seeking-language-large-enough

He is the author of many books of poetry and prose, including The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America; Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words; The Bell and the Blackbird; David Whyte: Essentials; and Still Possible.

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“Sweet Darkness” — written and read by David Whyte

$Pádraig Ó Tuama — Belonging Creates and Undoes Us Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet, theologian, and extraordinary healer in our world of fracture. He leads the Corrymeela community of Northern Ireland, a place that has offered refuge since the violent division that defined that country until the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Ó Tuama and Corrymeela extend a quiet, generative, and joyful force far beyond their northern coast to people around the world. Over cups of tea and the experience of bringing people together, he says it becomes possible to talk with each other and be in the same room with the people we talk about. (Original Air Date: March 2, 2017) About the Guest: Pádraig Ó Tuama served as the community leader of Corrymeela, Northern Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation organization from 2014 – April 2019. His books include a prayer book, “Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community,” a book of poetry, “Sorry for Your Troubles,” and a memoir, “In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World.” Visit our website to read the transcript, download the episode, or listen to the unedited interview: https://onbeing.org/programs/padraig-o-tuama-belonging-creates-and-undoes-us/ Visit our On Being Classics Library, where this episode is featured: https://onbeing.org/libraries/classics/ STAY IN TOUCH Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/onbeing Twitter: http://twitter.com/onbeing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onbeing/ Newsletter: https://onbeing.org/newsletter/ OUR PODCASTS On Being with Krista Tippett: https://onbeing.org/series/podcast/ This Movie Changed Me: https://onbeing.org/series/this-movie-changed-me/ Becoming Wise: https://onbeing.org/series/becoming-wise/$

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