Words and Music

Poetry, prose and music on the theme of wishes, with short story The Monkey's Paw warning people to be careful what they wish for. Edward Lear describes the joyful wish-fulfilment of the nutcracker and sugar-tongs when they leave the table to go horse riding, while Philip Larkin wishes a normal, happy life on a newborn child. Jane Hirshfield describes the ways in which she would like to improve her life, while Joan Aitken describes a cat and a wishing-mat. Plus, music from Stephen Sondheim, Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Pink Floyd and Stevie Wonder. The readers are Shobna Gulati and Colin Tierney.