Shall I compare Slumdog Millionaire's Ring- ring- ringa to John Donne's The Flea?

Poetry being one of my passions, there is a wide variety of poems that I really enjoy. However, there are some poems, as well as some schools of poetry that have a very special place in my heart, and among those, are the Metaphysical poets and John Donne. One of his poems that is fun to read every single time is The Flea. Now, the interesting part is, these guys, Donne, Marvell and Herbert were supposed to write "metaphysical poetry" in attempts to bring the reader closer to God, there sure wrote a heck of poems that can't be described as Godly or religious from any point.

Case in point: the flea and Marvell's To his Coy Mistress... Both are highly entertaining and irreverent. The flea is specially an example of the Medieval notion of Carpe diem or "cease the day". Anyway, this post is about how Donne's flea finds a parallel in Slumdog Millionaire's song "ring ringa ringa". For the benefit of anyone who doesn't understand hindi, I'll try to translate it.

Hindi Lyrics: Chick Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi (Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa Ringa Ringa) - 2 Hayeeee!, Aye Ree!!!, Aahahh!!!! Chua Chua, Chua Chua Chua, Aye Ree! Chua Chua Ara Ra Ra Chua Chua Chikchi Chikchi Chua Chua, Chua Chua Chua Ayi Ayi Ayi Ya Mai Mai Ya, Ayi Ayi Ayi Ayi Yi Yi Yi

[ Ringa Ringa Song Lyrics @ http://www.hindilyrix.com ] (Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa Ringa Ringa) -


2 Khatiye Pe Mein Padi Thi, Aur Gehri Neend Badi Thi Aage Kya Main Kahu Sakhi Re.. Ek Khatmal Tha Saiyana, Mujhpe Tha Uska Nishana Chunrai Mein Gus Gaya Dheere Dheere, Oooooo Ohhh Kuch Nahi Samjha O Buddhu, Kuch Nahi Socha Reng Ke Jaane Kaha Pahucha.. (Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa Ringa Ringa)


- 2 I was lying on the bed in a deep slumber
What more can I say, my friend...
There was a smart little bed-bug, and I was it's target
It got inside my veil, slowly slowly, oooo ohhh
It didn't understand anything, it didn't think
God's knows where it crawled and reached...


Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi Haaye Woh Sharmaye, Haaye Woh Lajaye, Haaye Haaye Kya Chupaye Kitna Mein Taddpi Thi, Kitna Mein Royi Thi
Mein To Thi Acchi Bhali, Kyon Bhala Soi Thi
Nigade Ne Mujhko Chain Lene Na Diya Rona Bhi Chaha To Mujhko Rone Na Diya,
O Ho, Aise Us Harjai Ki Makkari
Mere Tan Badan Mein Thi Lagi Chingari, Per Aise Kya Thi Lachari O O Oohoo,
Are Haiya Haiya Hoo (Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa Ringa Ringa) - 2
Haule Se Gudgudata, Dil Mein Hulchul Machata



Mein Sharm Se Thi Pani Pani.., Hahaha, Jo Usko Dhundthi Mein
Chupke Se Woh Chup Jata, Hahaha, Aise Thi Woh Meri Kahani..

Ooo Yun Samjlo Khatmal Ka Shikar Hui Thi Mein, Uske Aage Haar Gai Thi Mein


(Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa, Ring Ring Ringa Ringa Ringa) - 2 Hayeeee!, Aye Ree!!!, Aahahh!!!! Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi, Chikchi Chikchi

I turned to jelly with shame, how could I search for it?
It would go and hide..that's my story
Just understand that I was it's victim, I surrendered to it. [ Ringa Ringa Song Lyrics @ http://www.hindilyrix.com ]

Of course, the hindi lyrics are a lot more graphic and direct, but the purpose of the flea is maintained. It's supposed to be a euphemism or a symbol of the hero's quest to convince his mistress to surrender to him, while in the Hindi song, she doesn't need the convincing, she's already seduced. It's a lot more direct.


THE FLEA. by John Donne

MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ; It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be.
Thou know'st that this cannot be said A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ;
Yet this enjoys before it woo, And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do. O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are.

This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is. Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, And cloister'd in these living walls of jet. Though use make you apt to kill me, Let not to that self-murder added be, And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?
Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ;
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me, Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

Donne's speaker tries very valiantly to woo his mistress with humourous logic, but Slumdog's bedbug is the hero who just lands up and is successful in it's attempt.