592. from The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde
·3 min
This episode of Classic Poetry Aloud features an extract from Oscar Wilde's 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'. The host introduces the reading by explaining that listener Amit Avasti requested the entire poem, but only an extract is presented due to length constraints. The poem begins with a description of a murderer who did not wear his scarlet coat because blood and wine were on his hands. He is depicted walking among trial men in shabby grey, with a light step but a wistful look at the sky. The narrator walks with other souls in pain, wondering if the man committed a great or little crime. A voice whispers that the fellow must swing, causing the prison walls to seem to reel and the sky to become like scorching steel. The narrator notes that though he himself is in pain, he cannot feel it in that moment. The extract concludes with the line that the man had killed the thing he loved. The reading is delivered in a straightforward, auditory-focused format typical of the podcast. The host mentions that longer poems may eventually be featured in a series. The episode serves as a standalone listening experience of Wilde's work, emphasizing emotional impact through vocal delivery. No additional commentary or analysis is provided beyond the introductory context.
