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John Milton ranks as one the greatest English poets. He stands alongside Shakespeare in impact and fame. He is famous for composing the epic poem “Paradise Lost” in which he dramatizes the original sin – man’s first act of disobedience. But Paradise lost is about 10,000 lines long, and that is not what I’ll present now.

Instead, I would like to present a lovely sonnet called “On his blindness”. At the age of 48, while still in his prime, Milton lost his eyesight. For a wordsmith this was akin to death. He was angry, upset and greatly frustrated. His faith in God was severely tested. “How can I serve God, if he takes away my light”, he lamented. He had only run half the race. How could he go about the other half when he most needed his sight? But in the space of the fourteen lines of the sonnet, he reaches realization and acceptance. He understands God does not need his service. But he also realizes, his destiny is to serve God.

On his blindness

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Does God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God does not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."

H. H. Munro, writing under the pen name "Saki" is an acclaimed master of the short stories. He is known for his sharp wit, great command over the language and fondness for themes that are dark, macabre and satirical. He was the inspiration for later writers like P.G. Wodehouse.  In this episode, Kavya and Koushik discuss the writers works, what makes him special and a few passages from some of his famous stories. 

It is May 2021. A little over a year since Covid hit us. Thousands have lost their lives, struggling for something as basic as oxygen. It is also a little over a year, George Floyd died, struggling for oxygen…. And I can’t help seeing the connection. This 2 min poem is my attempt to connect the twin horrors of racism and a rampant epidemic Many a man was hit by the virus,  Many a black was hurt in the US.  Poison spread like smokey wreath Many a man gasped, “I can’t breathe”! Here’s a story of a woman infected, Rushed to a hospital much affected  She was convinced, it was a sin,  For a black to administer vaccine! Refusing a hand that offered cure She went  in search of someone pure Poison spread like smokey wreath, Her family gasped, “We can’t breathe” ! The arc of justice can be long,  It takes a while to right a wrong, For the deadly virus there is cure But a bigoted heart is seldom never pure - Koushik Krishnan

“The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry”. This line from a Robert Burns poem, is one of the most popular quotes in the English language. In this poem, Burns describes a situation where he accidentally destroys the nest of a farm mouse while ploughing his land. He is greatly saddened by this act and feels repentant. He realizes the mouse had built the nest to survive the harsh winter. He then muses “the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry”. The poem is rich with moral philosophy, metaphysics and contemplation.

Bazaars of Hyderabad is a poem composed by Sarojini Naidu. She was one of the early Indian writers in the English language. She was an active member of the Indian freedom struggle. She was rightly called the “Nightingale of India because of voice and her lyrical poems. In this poem she captures the vibrance, color, sounds and sights of a bazaar in Hyderabad!

Not all poems are sad or serious. They can be funny and nonsensical too! They could have animals come to life.

Exactly 73 years ago, on 14th August 1947, two new nations were born. India and Pakistan. The cities of Delhi, Lahore and Bombay were abuzz with preparations on this momentous occasion. Leaders were readying speeches and people celebrated on the streets. But in the city of Calcutta, the air was heavy with dread. The community was on edge. It was the 1st anniversary of Direct -action-Day, one of the bloodiest communal clashes in the country which left more than 5,000 people dead. And this is where Mahatma Gandhi was to be found, cooling down tempers between Hindus and Muslims. When asked why he wasn’t at the ramparts of the red fort in Delhi, he responded with this verse from John Masefield. Not the ruler for me, but the ranker, the tramp of the road, The slave with the sack on his shoulders pricked on with the goad, The man with too weighty a burden, too weary a load. The sailor, the stoker of steamers, the man with the clout, The chantyman bent at the halliards putting a tune to the shout, The drowsy man at the wheel and the tired lookout. Others may sing of the wine and the wealth and the mirth, The portly presence of potentates goodly in girth; – Mine be the dirt and the dross, the dust and scum of the earth! Theirs be the music, the colour, the glory, the gold; Mine be a handful of ashes, a mouthful of mould. Of the maimed, of the halt and the blind in the rain and the cold – Of these shall my songs be fashioned, my tales be told.

Kavya interviews Koushik on what he thinks about poetry and it’s place in society. They cover form, nature, and the future of poetry. Koushik shares some tips on how to write poetry and his poetic journey.

The phrase “All the world’s a stage” and the monologue that follows about the seven ages of man is well known. They are from Shakespeare’s pastoral romance, “As you like it”. When you hear it, you’ll say, “Wow, Shakespeare puts it so well!”. He was indeed clever. But not original. “All the world’s a stage” was a concept that predated Shakespeare by a comfortable 1,700 years. It was first popularised by the Roman poet Juvenal. Since then many people have made the reference. In fact, Shakespeare himself used this allegory in his earlier play “Merchant of Venice”. Similarly, the different ages of man aren’t novel. Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher and scientist, spoke about it. Closer home, the four ages of man are described in the Indian vedas. So, should we think less of Shakespeare because he wasn’t original? Not really. His genius lay in attracting and holding the attention of a live audience with popular and pithy themes. He used devices like rhyme and personification to engage the audience. And that is why his works are still in currency, or at least they should be.

Standing at the crossroads is both good and difficult. Life gives us a choice, but it forces us to stop, think and decide. We have all been there, haven’t we? What course of study should I pick, should I marry A, or do I love B more, vanilla or butterscotch? Even if it looks hazy, we try to see down one road for clues. We speak with people who made that choice before us and walked that road. We listen to our hearts. Of course, we can’t stand at the crossroads forever, so we pick one road over another and start walking. Tentative at first but growing in confidence. Are we happy with our choice? Or do we regret not taking the other road? You see it is easy to decide, tough not to regret the choice. Robert Frost, the celebrated American poet talked about the very same dilemma in his wonderful poem, “The road not taken”. The last para is most enigmatic. We don’t know if the poet is happy with his choice or not. It has been endlessly analysed and argued over the decades. Frost himself was bemused with all the attention it received. Be that as it may, I’d like to recite the poem for you, and let you think of the major crossroads in your life and what you feel about them now.

Emily Dickinson was an American poet of great repute. Her poems had abstract themes. She was influenced by Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In this poem, she uses a bird as a metaphor for Hope. It is a lyrical ballad which is childlike in its...

In this podcast, Kavya explores the connection between marriage and money. Is it a coincidence that Marriage and money both begin with M? Is it only emotion or also economics ? Economic well being is one of the unseen effects of marriage. Combined...

Kanishk narrates the popular Welsh poem - The miller of the Dee. It is about the simple yet content life that a miller leads by the River Dee. He sings the wonderful refrain, " I envy nobody, no, not I, Nobody envies me" !He is noticed by the local king...

Welcome to this new segment on Blue Studio - The minute Economist. Get smart in three minutes.In the year 1946 Hungary experienced a situation of extreme price rise. The daily inflation rate was 200 %. Which meant that on Monday if a car cost 200...

Is there a perfect poem? Has anyone composed one that comes close to perfection?  Ode to Autumn, by John Keats is widely regarded as the perfect short poem in the English language. The reason it is special is because while every other poet celebrates...

This poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a firm favorite among children and adults alike. It narrates the journey of a brook from from its origin to the end where it joins a larger river. The poem has rhythm, movement and cadence which makes it beautiful to...

From a railway carriage is a poem by the famous Scottish poet and writer Robert Louis Stevenson. He is well known for the adventure story, Treasure Island. He composed this poem in 1885 and it was published in his anthology, A Child's garden of verses....

The charge of the Light Brigade, by Alfred Lord Tennyson. This poem was written in response to the Crimean war. In this battle, a British cavalry unit  was ordered to charge against a Russian artillery unit. This order was suicidal. This poem talks...

Although i have never walked in the woods of New Hampshire, I am sure i would have been captivated by the mesmerising beauty of nature. Perhaps this is what happened to Robert Frost, the great American poet, who was born and raised there. Surrounded by...

The daffodils is a poem by the famous English poet, William Wordsworth. Though it was composed more than 200 years ago, it is kept alive in school textbooks and various poetry recital competitions. While walking along a lake in Ullsworth, with his...

The listeners by Walter de La Mare. An English poet acclaimed for his subtle psychological stories, the listeners is one of his popular poems. Beautiful in its simplicity, this poems tells the story of a lone traveler knocking at a decrepit house on a...

Hi friends, I am here with a wonderful sonnet, called Ozymandiaz. This was composed by the 18th century, English poet, Percy Shelley. In this poem, a traveller from the exotic lands, tells us the about the grand, but ruined statue of Ozymandias, in the...

Casino Royale - the 1st James Bond story

Kavya and I engage in a wide ranging discussion on the 2006 indian movie, Rang de Basanti. We cover a lot of ground - Indian history, cinema, Rakesh Mehras storytelling, how the movie is still relevant etc.

Movie review - The Client (1994)

A recital of the poem, "The Wonderful Words".

Mercy by William Shakespeare - a reading