BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

ABOUT THE POEM:

The poem LOVE’S CHASM is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature.The poem expresses the lover's longing for someone special who is far away. This person, described as having beautiful eyes and graceful shoulders holds the lover’'s affection. The lover's heart aches with desire, comparing their emotions to a peasant with minimal resources tending a small field. Despite the distance, the lover is bewildered on the very thought of how can they overcome this separation and be together.

LOVE'S CHASM

A vast expanse betwixt us lies,

From my maiden's hamlet fair,

With eyes that gleam like starlit skies,

And shoulders like the bamboo swings.

My heart in yearning beats its plea,

A rustic soul with humble chore,

A lone plough's toil, a field set free,

Moistened just enough, no more.

Oh, what course might fate construe,

To bridge this chasm, love's debut.

( In this poem the lover expresses his longing for someone special who is far away and how can they overcome this separation and be together. )

ON EXTENSIVE READING

Jawaharlal Nehru,Ex-Prime Minister of India  is  a bibliophile and voracious reader. It is reported in one of his biographies that in spite of his busy schedule he read about 500 pages a day. Is it humanly possible to read 500 pages a day? Yes, it is possible and how I'll explain now.

Every paragraph will have a topic sentence and as a rule, the first sentence or the last sentence happens to be the topic sentence. The voracious readers read the first and the last sentence and make out the content of the paragraph. This is possible only for intelligent, inquisitive, intuitive and immersive readers. Hence it is practicable that such readers read 500 pages and more a day.

We will take Bacon’s Essay On reading as a piece of corroborative evidence for such extensive reading abilities by certain individuals. I quote this part of Bacon’s essay from On reading to substantiate the fact that it is always possible for voracious readers to read extensively after understanding the facts about ways to read different genres of books:

……Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously and some few to be read wholly and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy and extracts made of them by others, but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things…..and thus goes the essay on reading. 

Further in this modern era, audiobooks have become the order of the day. One can listen to the content of the books on the go. It is possible one reads or rather grasps the contents of 20,000 odd books in 20 years as claimed by a political leader from Tamil Nadu, India.

If not a voracious reader maintain reading as a hobby otherwise excessive TV viewing coupled with diminished reading will make you lose a very important faculty in the brain called VISUALISING. Lack of reading habits can significantly erode the human brain's capacity for visualization. Regular reading nurtures cognitive processes, fostering a robust ability to conjure vibrant mental images from text. Excessive TV viewing makes one an ‘IDIOT’ suggesting passive engagement that hinders critical thinking and imaginative visualization. The decline in reading and the prevalence of mindless TV consumption can contribute to the erosion of this vital cognitive skill, VISUALISING. Beware It's imperative to recognize the impact of these trends on our capacity to visualize and comprehend complex concepts. 

A conscious effort to strike a balance between quality reading and selective TV consumption is crucial in preserving and enhancing our ability to mentally create, explore and interpret the world around us.

HAPPY READING & HAPPY LEARNING

ABOUT THE  POEM:

The poem CLANDESTINE LOVE is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. Amidst a marshy setting, an egret resembling a rain-soaked water lily is on the hunt for prey. Spotting the egret, a crab feels fear and escapes into its hiding place beneath the roots of a screw pine. The poem draws a parallel between the crab's flight and an ox breaking free from a tether. The girl's friend advises the lover from the coastal region to halt their secret visits. However, the lover shouldn't worry, as bangle sellers offer smaller sizes too. In the poem, the girl's friend advises the lover not to be concerned, since the bangle sellers have smaller sizes available implying that the girl might lose weight due to her longing and separation from her lover. The smaller bangles suggest the physical effect of the emotional turmoil she is experiencing.

CLANDESTINE LOVE

In wetlands' grace, an egret's form,

Resembled lily, rain adorned,

Questing prey, its purpose true,

Amidst the marsh, a scene in view.

A crab, with eyes so keenly wide,

Beheld this hunter in the tide,

With panic's surge, it took its flight,

A scene of nature's ancient fight.

As ox untethers from the hand,

Breaking free, a wild demand,

The crab sought refuge, safe and deep,

Beneath screw pine's roots, its secrets keep.

Beloved, hails from coastal zone,

Love's hidden path, a tale well-known,

Time whispers cease, these visits veiled,

Yet fear not now, for hope's unveiled.

The bangle vendors, they possess,

Not just the large, but small, no less,

Worries dissolve, as fate aligns,

In bangles' circle, fate entwines.

(what the friend told the girl, assuaging her  feelings of alienation from her lover)

NOTE:

pandanus, (genus Pandanus), also called screw pine, is any of some 600 tropical species of Old World trees and shrubs of the screw pine family (Pandanaceae). They grow along seacoasts and in marshy places and forests of tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

FASCINATING FACTS OF LIFE

SENSE OF APPRECIATION 

Dear Listeners,

From today for some more weeks in the Wednesday Episodes, some interesting facts of life will be talked about to make your lives lovable and livable and everything is doable. In today’s episode, I will talk to you about Sense of Appreciation which is an art in itself.

Do you know a secret:

Everyone craves for appreciation from one year old to 100 year old and even more. Human beings desire to be appreciated for their accomplishments however big or small it may be. Then why not you be lavish in praising the good work of someone.

The following phrases and expressions will come in handy.

"Way to go! You nailed it!"

"You're killing it with your awesome work!"

"Dude, your work is seriously impressive."

"You totally rocked that! Great job!"

"You've got some serious skills, my friend."

"I'm seriously blown away by your work."

"You're a superstar! Keep up the amazing work."

"High five! Your work is on point."

"Damn, you're good! Your work speaks volumes."

These informal expressions add a touch of enthusiasm and camaraderie while acknowledging someone's accomplishments. The list is indicative but not exhaustive

Appreciation is a complex and multifaceted emotional response that involves recognizing, valuing and expressing gratitude or admiration for something or someone. It encompasses a deep understanding of the worth, significance and positive impact of a person, action, object or situation. This sentiment plays a crucial role in human interactions, personal well-being and societal harmony. Try this out in day-to-day life and impress people with your manners and etiquette.

ABOUT THE POEM:

The poem “FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT” is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. The poem paints a vivid scene where herons have alighted on marudu trees near fields. These herons surround ponds with azure waters, reflecting the beauty of the surroundings. The ponds are teeming with fish, offering a bountiful feast for the herons to enjoy.

Amidst this serene setting, the girl addresses her husband. She reveals that the husband hails from the same land as this picturesque scene. The husband is indulging in the company of new women who possess an air of purity and freshness. However, to the girl’s dismay, the husband regards her as a mere ghostly presence. This change in attitude is attributed to the fact that the girl has borne the husband a child.

The poem explores themes of transformation, neglect and longing. It contrasts the vibrant imagery of nature with the emotional turbulence of the speaker's relationship. The husband's shift in attention and the girl’s sense of becoming invisible emphasize the complex emotions and changing dynamics within a relationship after the arrival of a child due to the husband's promiscuous attitude.

“FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT”

Upon marudu trees, now alight in grace,

The herons gather, a tranquil embrace,

Over fields they perch, a sight to behold,

Where ponds mirror skies, their tales of old.

A feast of fish, from verdant lands they find,

In azure waters, reflections intertwined,

Awaiting, beckoning, a banquet divine,

Nature's bounty bestowed, a chorus of time.

From that very soil, my beloved spouse,

Doth your essence bloom, as rivers drowse,

New women you embrace, fair and pure,

Yet I, a specter, lost in shadows obscure.

A child, a treasure, unto us bequeathed,

Yet it is I who wander, heartache unsheathed,

A phantom amidst your feast, a haunting grace,

Longing for the love, the warmth of your embrace.

The poem explores themes of transformation, neglect and longing in the words of the neglected girl by her promiscuous husband)

TONGUE TWISTERS 5

TONGUE TWISTERS 1

“Surely Sylvia swims!” shrieked Sammy surprised. “Someone should show Sylvia some strokes so she shall not sink.”

REPEAT

“Surely Sylvia swims!” shrieked Sammy surprised. “Someone should show Sylvia some strokes so she shall not sink.”

TONGUE TWISTERS 2

Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons—balancing them badly.

REPEAT

Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons—balancing them badly.

TONGUE TWISTERS 3

She stood on the balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccuping, and amicably welcoming him in.

REPEAT

She stood on the balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccuping, and amicably welcoming him in.

TONGUE TWISTERS 4

I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn’t the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn’t have thought I thought.

REPEAT

I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn’t the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn’t have thought I thought.

TONGUE TWISTERS 5

If practice makes perfect and perfect needs practice, I’m perfectly practiced and practically perfect.

REPEAT

If practice makes perfect and perfect needs practice, I’m perfectly practiced and practically perfect.

ABOUT THE POEM:

This is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature titled "A SUBLIME REVERIE". In this poem, the experience of a dream that wakes the lover from a pleasant slumber is vividly brought out with a great poetic nuance. Despite the disturbance, the dream reveals a fascinating image of the lover’s beloved. The sweetheart is described as having a dark complexion, a delicate line of hair on her belly resembling the summer's padiri blooms and adorning herself with intricate ornaments. The lover being separated from his beloved acknowledges the profound impact of such dreams and the enduring love they share, even in their absence. The dream's significance is emphasized in this poem, as it brings forth the image of the beloved, uniting the two souls despite the physical distance.

A SUBLIME REVERIE

Oh, dream divine, thou hast stirred me

From slumber's hold, tender and deep,

Yet, thou hast with imagery gifted me ,

A vision of my love to keep.

My sweetheart, with a darkened hue,

Her beauty shines, a precious art,

Her belly adorned, a wondrous view,

Padiri blooms' grace, delicate and smart.

With ornaments of skilled design,

She graces all with wondrous grace,

Though distance keeps us far aligned,

In love's embrace, we find our peace.

So dream, thou art no child's play,

For in thy realms, love's flames ignite,

Together, apart, we'll find our way,

Guided by dreams through day and night.

(what the lover said enthusiastically about a dream and acknowledges the profound impact of such dreams and the enduring love they share even in absence) 

Note:

PRACTICE:

TONGUE TWISTER 1

There was a young fisher named Fischer

Who fished for a fish in a fissure.

The fish with a grin,

Pulled the fisherman in;

Now they're fishing the fissure for Fischer.

Repeat

There was a young fisher named Fischer

Who fished for a fish in a fissure.

The fish with a grin,

Pulled the fisherman in;

Now they're fishing the fissure for Fischer.

TONGUE TWISTER 2

Suddenly swerving, seven small swans

Swam silently southward,

Seeing six swift sailboats

Sailing sedately seaward.

Repeat

Suddenly swerving, seven small swans

Swam silently southward,

Seeing six swift sailboats

Sailing sedately seaward.

TONGUE TWISTER 3

Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said "this butter's bitter!

But a bit of better butter will but make my butter better"

So she bought some better

butter, better than the bitter butter, and it made her butter better so 'twas

better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter!

Repeat

Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said "this butter's bitter!

But a bit of better butter will but make my butter better"

So she bought some better

butter, better than the bitter butter, and it made her butter better so 'twas

better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter!

ABOUT THE POEM:

The poem FLEETING LOVELINESS is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. The poem portrays the scene of storks descending upon a creek after its waters recede, feasting on fish in the slushy bed and perching on the dunes. These storks resemble the king's soldiers with their vibrant attire adorned in colorful plumage. The girl urges the friend to inform the lover who lives on the other side of the creek, that she is pining away. She compares her declining beauty to cattle taken by the king of Mullur. Overall, the poem touches on themes of nature's cycle, beauty and the feeling of loss and longing for a reunion of a distant loved one.

FLEETING LOVELINESS

When waters waned from the creek's domain,

A host of storks, a sight to deem,

Descended to feast on fish so bold,

In slushy beds where secrets teem,

Upon the dunes, they took their hold.

They moved akin to the king's grand guard,

With vibrant plumage, they displayed,

Oh, friend of mine, embark forthright,

To where my lover's dreams have stayed,

Beyond the creek, my fate takes flight.

When waters waned from the creek's domain,

Like cattle robbed by Mullur's king,

My loveliness, once proudly embossed,

Now lost and gone, a fleeting thing,

In silence, the pain of separation endured.

(In this poem a girl urges her friend to inform the lover about her feeling of loss and longing for the lover who lives on the other side of the creek)

(Note: Mullur is a name of a mountain associated with the rulers of ancient Tamil Nadu occurring in Sangam literature )

PRACTICE:

TONGUE TWISTERS 3

Of all the felt I ever felt,

I never felt a piece of felt

which felt as fine as that felt felt,

when first I felt that felt hat's felt.

If one doctor doctors another doctor, does the doctor

who doctors the doctor doctor the doctor the way the

doctor he is doctoring doctors? Or does he doctor

the doctor the way the doctor who doctors doctors?