Poetry Unbound — Stewart Henderson: How To Speak Love In A Storm?

Hosted by Pádraig Ó Tuama
Date: February 6, 2026

Episode Overview

In this moving episode, Pádraig Ó Tuama explores Stewart Henderson’s poem “How To Speak Love in a Storm.” Ó Tuama delves into the heart of what it means to offer love and presence in moments of chaos, loss, or personal crisis. Through careful reading and personal reflections, he honors those who support others through difficult times—be they chaplains, friends, therapists, or neighbors. The episode is an immersive meditation on compassionate presence, the limits and power of words, and the deeply human wish to reach one another amid life’s most turbulent storms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Origin of the Episode (00:02–03:32)

• Anniversary Reflection: Ó Tuama mentions the 10th season milestone and recalls hearing from listeners during COVID’s isolating depths. Poetry provided comfort to people in healthcare and to those experiencing grief and uncertainty.
• Honoring Quiet Acts of Care: He shares a story of a hospital chaplain who, after a shift, tried to shield his children from the burden of his day’s trauma.
  • “He was a hospital chaplain and I've thought about him so often in the years since… the ways he was present to his own life, to the life of the people he loved, as well as then to the life of the people that he was meeting in a hospital. I found that to be such a noble work.” [01:31]
• Purpose of Poem Choice: Ó Tuama frames Henderson’s poem as an honoring of all people who enact love and care during life’s storms.

First Introduction and Reading of the Poem (03:32–06:04)

• Reads “How to Speak Love in a Storm,” setting the tone for a deep, attentive unpacking.

Poetry as a Tether in Crisis (06:04–07:27)

• Personal Vignette: Remembers creating a poetry package for a friend in crisis staying at a mental health facility.
  • “No poem is going to solve anything. However, it was a way of saying, I am trying to reach out to you in a storm with something about this.” [06:42]
• Describes poetry as a means of reaching for connection and presence, even when solutions aren’t available.

The Poem as a “Masterclass” in Compassion (07:27–10:03)

• Chaplaincy, Therapy, and Friendship: Ó Tuama connects the poem’s lessons to real-life roles of support.
• Substance of Voice: Focuses on loving presence, not just the sound of words.
  • “To be a kind presence in a storm depends on the substance of the voice.” [07:42]
• Observation and Gentle Witnessing:
  • Describes Henderson’s depiction of chaos: “The trees rage, roof tiles smash, seagulls are grounded. There is only chaos.” [08:20]
• The Signpost Metaphor:
  • Explained as wisdom—a signpost helps the lost but doesn’t pressure or demand.
  • “The metaphor of the signpost is wise because signposts stay for a long time, and if you're lost, it can be a relief…” [08:49]

Deeper Exploration of Distress and Shame (10:03–11:49)

• The “Now” of Suffering:
  • “The now at the end of that question just takes a painful question and adds a deeper part to it. The now at the end of it is brutal and shame as well…” [10:23]
• Metaphor of Exposure:
  • Discusses the poem’s line: “Exposure like a fox circling your lamb’s heart.”
  • “Lamb’s heart” connotes innocence, making the image of vulnerability especially poignant.
• Personal Resonance:
  • Shares a therapy anecdote where the poem bridged the client/clinician divide for a moment.
  • “At the end of the session...he said, could you give me a copy of that poem? And it was the first kind of extemporaneous communication between the two of us that felt like two adults meeting…” [11:09]

The Power and Limits of Words (11:49–12:51)

• On “Hollow Prayers” and Genuine Presence:
  • Explains that poems and words alone aren’t always sufficient, but their true value is in attentive recognition.
  • “Sometimes we understand that offerings of words are the only thing we can do in as well as attention as well as action… But somehow, still, the presence with another person, words can be part of that.” [12:12]
• The Essential Wisdom of Walking Backwards:
  • “Walking backwards when you can't see what's coming, but you can only see what's past, this poem holds together a few things.” [12:44]
  • Compares the poem’s companionship with that of Virgil guiding Dante in the Inferno.
  • Acknowledges how bearing witness to another’s past pain gives vital, if imperfect, accompaniment.

Conclusion and Second Poem Reading (12:51–13:48)

• Love in the Storm:
  • Reiterates that the poem is a consistent attempt to insert love amidst chaos and uncertainty.
  • Rereads the poem for deeper absorption, emphasizing the motifs of voice, presence, and steadfast love.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “No poem is going to solve anything. However, it was a way of saying, I am trying to reach out to you in a storm with something about this.” — Pádraig Ó Tuama [06:42]
• “To be a kind presence in a storm depends on the substance of the voice.” — Pádraig Ó Tuama [07:42]
• “The metaphor of the signpost is wise because signposts stay for a long time, and if you're lost, it can be a relief.” — Pádraig Ó Tuama [08:49]
• “The now at the end of it is brutal and shame as well… Exposure like a fox encircling your lamb's heart.” — Pádraig Ó Tuama [10:23]
• “At the end of the session...he said, could you give me a copy of that poem?... It changed me.” — Pádraig Ó Tuama [11:09]
• “Not offering words and hollow prayers... He is trying to use words to speak about offering something that's more than words, which is acknowledgement and seeing and recognition...” — Pádraig Ó Tuama [12:12]
• “Walking backwards with you into your abandoned years. I think they're so wise in terms of the careful conjugation that they use, the careful images that they use.” — Pádraig Ó Tuama [12:24]

Key Timestamps

• 00:02–03:32 — Pádraig reflects on the show’s origins and listener responses during COVID.
• 03:32–06:04 — First reading of “How to Speak Love in a Storm.”
• 06:04–07:27 — Story of sending poetry to a friend in need; poetry as a gesture.
• 07:27–10:03 — Poem as a guide for chaplaincy and compassionate presence; the metaphor of the signpost.
• 10:03–11:49 — Exploring the pain, shame, and vulnerability depicted in the poem.
• 11:49–12:51 — On the sincerity of presence and the wisdom of “walking backwards” with someone.
• 12:51–13:48 — Second reading of the poem and final reflections.

The Episode’s Heart

This episode is a gentle but profound meditation on how we demonstrate love and presence not in the form of problem-solving, but in witness, accompaniment, and care. Through Stewart Henderson’s poem—and through his own stories—Pádraig Ó Tuama celebrates the everyday, often unheralded acts of loving presence amid life’s storms.

For Further Reading

• The poem “How to Speak Love in a Storm” can be found at onbeing.org.
• Explore more from Stewart Henderson at stuart-henderson.com.
• Engage with the Poetry Unbound community and resources at poetryunbound.org.