A River
By A. K. Ramanujan
In Madurai,
city of temples and poets,
who sang of cities and temples,
every summer
a river dries to a trickle
in the sand,
baring the sand ribs,
straw and women’s hair
clogging the water gates
at the rusty bars
under the bridges with patches
of repair all over them
the wet stones glistening like sleepy crocodiles,
the dry ones shaven water buffaloes lounging in the sun
The poets only sang of the floods.
He was there for a day
when they had the floods.
People everywhere talked
of the inches rising,
of the precise number of cobbled steps
run over by the water, rising
on the bathing places,
and the way it carried off three village houses,
one pregnant woman
and a couple of cows
named Gopi and Brinda as usual.
The new poets still quoted
the old poets, but no one spoke
in verse
of the pregnant woman
drowned, with perhaps twins in her,
kicking at blank walls
even before birth.
He said:
the river has water enough
to be poetic
about only once a year
and then
it carries away
in the first half hour
three village houses, a couple of cows
named Gopi and Brinda
and one pregnant woman
expecting identical twins
with no moles on their bodies,
with different coloured diapers
to tell them apart.
Understanding “A River”
“A River” by A. K. Ramanujan is a poignant exploration of life, loss, and the power of nature, all set against the backdrop of the ancient city of Madurai in South India. The poem meticulously contrasts the serene dryness of summer with the destructive force of the annual floods. It asks us to consider what stories are told, and just as importantly, what stories are not told, when we celebrate the grandeur of nature. At its heart, the poem subtly critiques how art often glorifies spectacle while overlooking the quiet suffering of ordinary people. Ramanujan’s poem is a masterclass in understatement, conveying immense emotional weight through precise imagery and a deceptively simple style.
Summary and Central Idea
The poem describes the cycle of a river in Madurai, transitioning from a barely‑there trickle in the summer to a raging torrent during the monsoon season. It observes the everyday details of life surrounding the river—the debris clogging the water gates, the lounging animals, and the conversations about rising water levels. Crucially, the poem highlights the disparity between the poetic celebrations of the floods and the actual human cost of the disaster. The death of a pregnant woman during the floods—along with the loss of homes and livestock—is almost an afterthought, unnoticed by the poets who sing of the river’s power. Ramanujan suggests that true poetry should not shy away from acknowledging suffering, but instead bear witness to the full spectrum of human experience.
In-Depth Analysis of “A River”
Imagery and Sensory Details
Ramanujan’s skill lies in his ability to evoke a strong sense of place and atmosphere through vivid imagery. The opening lines paint a picture of the summer riverbed: “baring the sand ribs,” “straw and women’s hair clogging the water gates.” These images are tactile and slightly unsettling, hinting at the river’s power even in its diminished state. The comparison of wet stones to “sleepy crocodiles” and dry stones to “shaven water buffaloes” is particularly striking. It is an example of how Ramanujan connects the natural world with everyday life, creating familiarity and immediacy. This sensory richness is not simply descriptive; it establishes a mood and foreshadows the river’s eventual resurgence.
The Contrast Between Celebration and Reality
The line “The poets only sang of the floods” is the poem’s central critique. Ramanujan does not condemn poetry itself, but points out its limitations. The poets focus on the spectacle of the floods—the rising water, the destruction—while ignoring the individual tragedies that occur within that spectacle. The loss of the pregnant woman is particularly poignant because it is presented as almost an afterthought, a detail glossed over in the broader narrative of the flood. This deliberate omission highlights the tendency of art to romanticize suffering and to prioritize aesthetic beauty over human empathy. The poem forces us to ask: who gets to tell the story, and whose story is left untold?
The Significance of the Pregnant Woman
The repeated mention of the pregnant woman emphasizes her symbolic importance. She represents not only individual loss but also the potential for future life cut short. The fact that she is expecting twins—“kicking at blank walls even before birth”—adds another layer of tragedy. The image of the unborn children “kicking at blank walls” is particularly haunting, suggesting futility and the loss of hope. It is a stark reminder that the flood’s consequences extend beyond immediate devastation and impact future generations.
The Final Stanza and its Details
The final stanza, detailing the specific losses in the first half hour of the flood—houses, cows, and the pregnant woman—is a powerful example of understatement. The almost clinical listing of these losses creates a sense of detachment, mirroring the way the poets have distanced themselves from the human cost of the flood. The specific details—the names of the cows (“Gopi and Brinda”) and the description of the twins (“with no moles on their bodies, with different coloured diapers”)—humanize the victims and make their loss all the more poignant. The diapers, though seemingly trivial, emphasize the new life that was lost.
Poetic Devices in “A River”
Allusion and Cultural Context
The poem is steeped in the cultural context of Madurai, a city renowned for its temples and poetic tradition. This allusion to the city’s history and artistic heritage adds depth and resonance to the poem. Ramanujan does not explicitly explain these references, trusting the reader to understand the significance of the setting.
Imagery, Metaphor, and Simile
As discussed previously, imagery is central to the poem’s success. The use of simile—like comparing wet stones to crocodiles—creates vivid and memorable images. Metaphor—like describing the river’s “sand ribs”—adds layers of meaning and complexity.
Enjambment and Free Verse
Ramanujan employs free verse, eschewing traditional rhyme schemes and meters. This stylistic choice mirrors the unpredictable nature of the river itself, allowing the language to flow naturally and organically. The frequent use of enjambment—where lines run on into the next—creates a sense of momentum and emphasizes the continuous flow of water.
Irony and Understatement
The poem is rife with irony. The contrast between the celebratory verses of the poets and the tragic reality of the flood is a prime example. Ramanujan’s use of understatement—presenting devastating events in a calm, almost detached tone—heightens the emotional impact.
Conclusion
“A River” is a deceptively simple poem that offers a profound meditation on life, loss, and the power of art. Ramanujan’s masterful use of imagery, understatement, and poetic devices creates a haunting and unforgettable portrait of a river—and the people whose lives are intertwined with its ebb and flow. It reminds us that true art must not shy away from acknowledging suffering, but instead bear witness to the full spectrum of human experience and tell the stories that often go untold.