Radio
Object location: Living room
A fairly regular part of Sangharakshita’s daily routine involved listening to the news and other programmes of interest on BBC Radio 4. Perhaps his personal history in relation to the radio (or wireless, as it used to be called) can be summed up in this rather whimsical poem:
MR WIRELESS (2009)
Meet my best friend, Mr Wireless,
I’ve known him years and years.
We’ve laughed a lot together;
Together we’ve shed tears.
He wakes me in the morning
With news from round the world,
News of earthquakes and agreements,
Troop withdrawals, rockets hurled.
He talks to me of people,
Of lands both near and far,
Plays me tunes on the piano,
Or conducts an orchestra.
Yes, we grew up together,
And I remember yet
The days when Mr Wireless
Was Little Crystal Set.
Accumulators then he had,
And did in valves rejoice;
And I had to put on headphones
To hear his muffled voice.
Now I hear him very clearly,
He doesn’t need to shout.
From sitting room to kitchen
He follows me about.
Meet my best friend, Mr Wireless.
The last sound I shall hear
Will be that well loved voice of his
Receding from my ear.
The Complete Works of Sangharakshita, volume 25, p.448