Kitchen Hymns by Pádraig Ó Tuama opens with the question, "Do You Believe in God?" but shifts focus from belief to language and narrative. The collection explores philosophical themes through a unique structure, likened to a ghost mass, where longing and absence still speak. Characters like Jesus and Persephone engage in conversations about survival, and belief is questioned through vivid, lyrical imagery--such as hares carrying messages between realms. The poems address various forms of "you," from lovers to strangers, exploring themes of creation, destruction, trauma, and desire. With a blend of observation, humor, rage, and praise, Kitchen Hymns creates a powerful reckoning with emptiness and the body, offering a profound and forceful poetic exploration.
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