RNTalks
By RNTalks
RNTalksJan 13, 2021
‘Still Life’ by A. K. Ramanujan
‘Still Life’ by A. K. Ramanujan
When she left me
after lunch, I read
for a while.
But I suddenly wanted
to look again
and I saw the half-eaten
sandwich,
bread,
lettuce and salami,
all carrying the shape
of her bite.
‘Wolf’ by Keki Daruwalla
‘Wolf’ by Keki Daruwalla
Fire-lit
half silhouette and half myth
the wolf circles my past
treading the leaves into a bed
till he sleeps, black snout
on extended paws.
Black snout on sulphur body
he nudged his way
into my consciousness.
Prowler, wind-sniffer, throat-catcher,
his cries drew a ring
around my night;
a child's night is a village
on the forest edge.
My mother said
his ears stand up
at the fall of dew
he can sense a shadow
move across a hedge
on a dark night;
he can sniff out
your approaching dreams;
there is nothing
that won't be lit up
by the dark torch of his eyes.
The wolves have been slaughtered now.
A hedge of smoking gun-barrels
rings my daughter's dreams.
‘Hunger’ by Jayanta Mahapatra
‘Hunger’ by Jayanta Mahapatra
It was hard to believe the flesh was heavy on my back.
The fisherman said: Will you have her, carelessly,
trailing his nets and his nerves, as though his words
sanctified the purpose with which he faced himself.
I saw his white bone thrash his eyes.
I followed him across the sprawling sands,
my mind thumping in the flesh's sling.
Hope lay perhaps in burning the house I lived in.
Silence gripped my sleeves; his body clawed at the froth
his old nets had only dragged up from the seas.
In the flickering dark his lean-to opened like a wound.
The wind was I, and the days and nights before.
Palm fronds scratched my skin. Inside the shack
an oil lamp splayed the hours bunched to those walls.
Over and over the sticky soot crossed the space of my mind.
I heard him say: My daughter, she's just turned fifteen...
Feel her. I'll be back soon, your bus leaves at nine.
The sky fell on me, and a father's exhausted wile.
Long and lean, her years were cold as rubber.
She opened her wormy legs wide. I felt the hunger there,
the other one, the fish slithering, turning inside
‘Summer In Calcutta’ by Kamala Das
‘Summer In Calcutta’ by Kamala Das
What is this drink but
The April sun, squeezed
Like an orange in
My glass? I sip the
Fire, I drink and drink
Again, I am drunk
Yes, but on the gold
of suns, What noble
venom now flows through
my veins and fills my
mind with unhurried
laughter? My worries
doze. Wee bubbles ring
my glass, like a bride’s
nervous smile, and meet
my lips. Dear, forgive
this moment’s lull in
wanting you, the blur
in memory. How
brief the term of my
devotion, how brief
your reign when i with
glass in hand, drink, drink,
and drink again this
Juice of April suns.
‘On Killing A Tree’ by Gieve Patel
‘On Killing A Tree’ by Gieve Patel
It takes much time to kill a tree,
Not a simple jab of the knife
Will do it. It has grown
Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leperous hide
Sprouting leaves.
So hack and chop
But this alone wont do it.
Not so much pain will do it.
The bleeding bark will heal
And from close to the ground
Will rise curled green twigs,
Miniature boughs
Which if unchecked will expand again
To former size.
No,
The root is to be pulled out -
Out of the anchoring earth;
It is to be roped, tied,
And pulled out - snapped out
Or pulled out entirely,
Out from the earth-cave,
And the strength of the tree exposed,
The source, white and wet,
The most sensitive, hidden
For years inside the earth.
Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.
‘If You Forget Me’ By Pablo Neruda
‘If You Forget Me’ By Pablo Neruda
“I want you to know
one thing.
You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.
Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.
If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.”
‘Lady Lazarus’ By Sylvia Plath
‘Lady Lazarus’ By Sylvia Plath
I have done it again.
One year in every ten
I manage it——
A sort of walking miracle, my skin
Bright as a Nazi lampshade,
My right foot
A paperweight,
My face a featureless, fine
Jew linen.
Peel off the napkin
O my enemy.
Do I terrify?——
The nose, the eye pits, the full set of teeth?
The sour breath
Will vanish in a day.
Soon, soon the flesh
The grave cave ate will be
At home on me
And I a smiling woman.
I am only thirty.
And like the cat I have nine times to die.
This is Number Three.
What a trash
To annihilate each decade.
What a million filaments.
The peanut-crunching crowd
Shoves in to see
Them unwrap me hand and foot——
The big strip tease.
Gentlemen, ladies
These are my hands
My knees.
I may be skin and bone,
Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman.
The first time it happened I was ten.
It was an accident.
The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shut
As a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.
Dying
Is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.
I do it so it feels like hell.
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I’ve a call.
It’s easy enough to do it in a cell.
It’s easy enough to do it and stay put.
It’s the theatrical
Comeback in broad day
To the same place, the same face, the same brute
Amused shout:
‘A miracle!’
That knocks me out.
There is a charge
For the eyeing of my scars, there is a charge
For the hearing of my heart——
It really goes.
And there is a charge, a very large charge
For a word or a touch
Or a bit of blood
Or a piece of my hair or my clothes.
So, so, Herr Doktor.
So, Herr Enemy.
I am your opus,
I am your valuable,
The pure gold baby
That melts to a shriek.
I turn and burn.
Do not think I underestimate your great concern.
Ash, ash—
You poke and stir.
Flesh, bone, there is nothing there——
A cake of soap,
A wedding ring,
A gold filling.
Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.
Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.
‘The Second Coming’ By William Butler Yeats
‘The Second Coming’ By William Butler Yeats
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Caged Birds’ a poem by Maya Angelou
Caged Birds’ a poem by Maya Angelou
‘Presence of Love’ by John Keats
‘Presence of Love’ by John Keats
‘Presence of Love’ a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
‘Presence of Love’ a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
‘Love’s Philosophy’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley
‘Love’s Philosophy’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley
‘She Walks in Beauty’ a poem by Lord Byron
‘She Walks in Beauty’ a poem by Lord Byron
'A River' by A.K. Ramanujan
'A River' by A.K. Ramanujan is my favorite poem. A River is a poem about the different ways in which rivers can be viewed, from dry riverbeds to deep, flowing bodies of water.
“The Frog And The Nightingale” by Vikram Seth
“The Frog And The Nightingale” by Vikram Seth is one of my favorite poem and its unique approach to poetry writing. It's a timeless classic that I would recommend to any fan of literature. Not only does it offer a great narrative, but also teaches a valuable lesson about staying true to yourself and never giving up on dreams. I'm sure you'll love it.
“The Seven Ages of Man” By William Shakespeare (from As You Like It)
“The Seven Ages of Man” By William Shakespeare (from As You Like It) looks back at the different stages of life, from birth to death. Each age features an exploration of one particular stage, examining its implications and presenting stories from people who have experienced it. It's a fascinating journey through our shared human experience! We hope you will join us for this emotional and thought-provoking series. Thank
"Sleepless Night" By Ruskin Bond
"Sleepless Night" By Ruskin Bond is a wonderful poem that has enthralled audiences of all ages. It is a classic work of literature and one of the most enduring works by Ruskin Bond. Tune into my podcast to listen to it.
"Dreams" by Langston Hughes
"Dreams" by Langston Hughes is one of my favorite poems. It speaks to the power of hope and the ability to dream and work towards a better future despite obstacles. The poem captures so many emotions and feelings in just a few words. It inspires me every time I hear it. Every time I read it, I feel like I’m getting closer to understanding its message.
'Baby's Way' by Rabindranath Tagore
Today we bring to you the beautiful poem 'Baby's Way' by Rabindranath Tagore. Baby is the Human Soul, which has descended from the Heavens, the realm of serene bliss, to bring joy to this sultry world of many sufferings
"If" by Rudyard Kipling
"If" by Rudyard Kipling is a poem that speaks of finding strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The poem follows the narrator's journey through life, exploring various themes such as courage, duty, tradition, and perseverance. By examining these ideas, Kipling encourages readers to be brave regardless of their circumstances.
"Palanquin Bearers" By Sarojini Naidu
"Palanquin Bearers" By Sarojini Naidu is a beautiful lyrical poem which captures the emotions of a group of bearers carrying a palanquin through the streets. The poem expresses their love for their work and how they take pride in it despite its arduous nature.
"A Bird, Came Down the Walk" By Emily Dickinson
"A Bird, Came Down the Walk" By Emily Dickinson is a poem has been widely celebrated for its exploration of the beauty of nature and how it can be found in even the simplest places. It also serves as a reminder to take notice of our surroundings, an important lesson everyone can relate to. The poem has become part of the American canon, inspiring readers to slow down and appreciate the little things in life.
"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth
"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth is one of my favorite poems. I find it really inspiring and thought-provoking. It makes me stop and appreciate the beauty of nature and life around us, even in our darkest moments. It's a reminder to take the time to reflect, be creative, and enjoy the simpler things in life. Thanks for sharing! :) Listening to it read out loud on a podcast really brings it alive for me! I'm sure others will appreciate hearing this classic poem as well. Please consider including it in your show! Thank you!
"Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats
"Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats is one of my favorite poems, and I love hearing different interpretations of it. It's a great way to explore different nuances in the poem and appreciate its complexity. From spoken word recitals to musical renditions, there are so many fantastic takes on this classic that it can be hard to choose just one!
The Road Not Taken BY ROBERT FROST
The Road Not Taken BY ROBERT FROST
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
World No Tobacco Day With RNTalks.
World No Tobacco Day With RNTalks. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of tobacco users saying they want to quit. Commit to quit today and lead a healthy life. Quit Today Live For Tomorrow.
What is Zohnerism Parody How Does it Affect Us in Daily Life
Breaking news and panel debates have been dominating Indian TV for the last few days. All of them are supporters of Zohnerism Parody!
Happy Mother's Day Message
Anna Jarvis commemorated her mother with a day of celebration in 1908, which led to the modern Mother's Day celebration. May 12 falls on Sunday this year, which is International Mother's Day. During this time, mothers celebrate their bond with their children.
13 Ways To Develop A More Vibrant Personality PART 2
We all own certain personality traits that set us aside from the rest. A mix of good and evil; these traits determine how we react to circumstances and personalities. 13 Ways To Develop A More Vibrant Personality PART 1 & 2 shall help you to evolve your personality.
13 Ways To Develop A More Vibrant Personality PART-1
Explore and rediscover your personality’s hidden perspectives, stimulate your senses, speed up success & reputation by following some basic steps.
Child Psychology Part3
This is the concluding part that deals with the emotions and social development of the child. The role of the mentors, parents, and primary caregivers is utmost at this juncture.
Child Psychology Part 2
Child Psychology Part 2 will enable the parents, mentors, and primary care givers to understand the child better and help out and also seek professional help if needed.
What Is Child Psychology- Part 1
Child Psychology- Part 1, is useful to help both parents and teachers better understand and support children in their care.
How Does The Locus of Control Affect Your Life- PART 2
In continuation of our 1st episode of Locus of control, we here speak about the internal locus of control in the part 2 version and how they both together define our primary four dimensions of core values of… self-evaluations – one's primary appraisal of oneself – simultaneously with neuroticism, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Listen to find out how...
How Does The Locus of Control Affect Your Life-PART 1
Are you wondering as to how does the locus of control affects your life? Locus of control is one of the primary four dimensions of core values of… self-evaluations – one's primary appraisal of oneself – simultaneously with neuroticism, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Listen to find out how...
Who Am I-Part 2-Core Identity
People are oft confused about their Core identity and how they want people to remember them as. This episode Who Am I-Part 2-Core Identity shall help you identify with your inner self.
Who Am I-Part 1-Rediscover Yourself
Everyone wants to be noticed yet they are not confident of what they want others to see them as. Who Am I-Part 1, will help you to Rediscover Yourself.
Embracing Change Is The Key To Survival
Life has its ups and downs. For every downslide moment, there is an upswing moment too. Have faith in your faith. Embrace change...remember change is vital for survival.
Motivational Session at ARSD
'Winners don't do different things. They do things differently,' Want to be a leader? Want to be happy? Want to be loved by one and all? Then go ahead and watch the video.
Take Panga with Your Life
Till the time you don't move out of your comfort zone you will never be able to achieve anything in your life.
जब तक आप अपनी ज़िन्दगी से पंगा नहीं लेंगे तब तक आप ज़िन्दगी में कुछ नहीं कर पाएंगे। इसलिए उठिए और पंगा लीजिये, फिर देखिये आप कहाँ से कहाँ पहुँच जाते हैं।
Sher aur Lakadbaggha
Never allow anyone to belittle to and make you feel small or insignificant. Stay focused on your goals and success will be yours.
कभी भी किसी को आप की बेज़त्ति करने की और आपको नीचा दिखाने की अनुमति न दें।
Strong People Help Others To Grow
Strong People Help Others To Grow while the insecure and weak people pull each other down. There are two ways to succeed one is to work for a goal and the second is to pull down others. Stay positive and help others grow with you.
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Rhetoric To Nirvana...Inspiring Lives with RNTalks
Each one of us has faced difficulties in life and have overcome the situation with our grit and determination. Come share your inspiring and motivational stories with the world through our platform... Be an inspiration to others with RNTalks
What is RNTalks?
Stop for a moment & consider the last time you felt typically unmotivated or demotivated. What delivered you out of that feeling? Sometimes listening to someone say something that resonates with you alters the manner you've been looking at a specific assignment or problem.
Thoughts Produce Feelings
SHOW LESSThoughts Produce Feeling. Don't believe me? Then try it for yourself. How we feel is directly proportional to the types of thoughts we cultivate. If you think positive thoughts then you invite the positivity from the universe towards you and vice-versa.
Have a Healthy New Year
Stop trolling 2020 and build a better 2021.