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.
Exploring A.K. Ramanujan’s “A River”
Welcome to an insightful journey into A.K. Ramanujan’s profound poem, “A River.” This piece of literature invites readers to look closely at nature’s power and humanity’s response to it, all within the ancient, vibrant setting of Madurai, India. The poem masterfully contrasts the river’s gentle summer state with its overwhelming monsoon floods. It challenges us to consider not only the stories we tell about nature’s grandeur but also the important stories we often overlook. “A River” is a remarkable example of how poetry can use precise language and vivid imagery to convey deep emotional truths and spark important conversations about empathy and perspective.
“A River” Summary and Central Idea
“A River” describes the annual cycle of the Vaigai River in Madurai. In summer, the river dwindles to a mere trickle, revealing its sandy bed and everyday debris. However, with the monsoon, it transforms into a powerful, destructive flood. The poem highlights a significant contrast: while local poets traditionally celebrate the spectacle and force of the floods, they often ignore the tragic human cost. The poem specifically mentions the loss of homes, livestock, and, most poignantly, a pregnant woman during the floods. Ramanujan’s central idea is a subtle critique of art and society. He suggests that true poetry and genuine human understanding should encompass the full spectrum of experience, including suffering and individual loss, rather than focusing solely on grand, romanticized events. The poem advocates for a more empathetic and comprehensive view of reality.
In-Depth Analysis of “A River”
Vivid Imagery and Sensory Details
Ramanujan excels at creating a strong sense of place and atmosphere through his rich imagery. The poem opens by painting a picture of the summer riverbed, using lines such as “baring the sand ribs” and “straw and women’s hair clogging the water gates.” These images are not just visual; they are tactile and slightly unsettling, hinting at the river’s underlying power even when it appears diminished. A particularly striking example is the comparison of the river’s stones: “the wet stones glistening like sleepy crocodiles, the dry ones shaven water buffaloes lounging in the sun.” This simile connects the natural world with familiar animal imagery, making the scene immediate and relatable. This detailed sensory description establishes the mood and subtly foreshadows the river’s dramatic transformation during the monsoon.
The Contrast Between Poetic Celebration and Harsh Reality
A pivotal line in the poem, “The poets only sang of the floods,” introduces the poem’s central critique. Ramanujan does not condemn poetry itself, but rather points out a common limitation in how stories are told. The traditional poets focus on the grand spectacle of the floods, the rising water, and the widespread destruction, while seemingly ignoring the individual tragedies that occur within that larger event. The loss of the pregnant woman is presented almost as an afterthought, a detail easily overlooked in the broader narrative of the flood’s power. This deliberate omission highlights a tendency in art to romanticize or glorify natural events, sometimes at the expense of human empathy. The poem compels readers to ask: whose stories are told, and whose are left unheard?
The Profound Significance of the Pregnant Woman
The repeated mention of the pregnant woman underscores her immense symbolic importance within the poem. She represents not only an individual life lost but also the tragic cutting short of future potential. The detail that she is expecting twins, “kicking at blank walls even before birth,” adds an extra layer of profound tragedy. The image of unborn children “kicking at blank walls” is particularly haunting, suggesting a sense of futility and the complete eradication of hope. This serves as a stark reminder that the consequences of the flood extend far beyond immediate devastation, impacting future generations and the very essence of life itself.
The Impact of the Final Stanza’s Details
The poem’s final stanza, which lists the specific losses in the “first half hour” of the flood, is a powerful example of understatement. The almost clinical enumeration of “three village houses, a couple of cows named Gopi and Brinda and one pregnant woman expecting identical twins” creates a sense of detachment. This detachment mirrors the way the traditional poets have distanced themselves from the human cost of the flood. The specific details, such as the names of the cows and the description of the twins “with no moles on their bodies, with different coloured diapers to tell them apart,” serve to humanize the victims. These seemingly small details make their loss all the more poignant and real, emphasizing the unique lives that were tragically cut short.
Poetic Devices in “A River”
Allusion and Cultural Context
The poem is deeply rooted in the cultural and historical context of Madurai, a city celebrated for its ancient temples and rich poetic tradition. This allusion to the city’s heritage adds significant depth and resonance to the poem. Ramanujan skillfully incorporates these references without explicit explanation, trusting the reader to grasp the profound significance of the setting and its long-standing relationship with poetry and nature.
Imagery, Metaphor, and Simile
As explored in the analysis, imagery is fundamental to the poem’s effectiveness. Ramanujan uses vivid descriptions to engage the reader’s senses. Simile, a comparison using “like” or “as,” is evident in lines such as “the wet stones glistening like sleepy crocodiles,” creating memorable and evocative pictures. Metaphor, a direct comparison, adds layers of meaning, as seen when the river’s exposed bed is described as “baring the sand ribs,” suggesting the skeletal remains of a living entity.
Enjambment and Free Verse
Ramanujan employs free verse, a poetic form that does not adhere to traditional rhyme schemes or strict meters. This stylistic choice mirrors the unpredictable and natural flow of the river itself, allowing the language to move organically. The frequent use of enjambment, where lines continue without a grammatical pause into the next, creates a sense of continuous movement and emphasizes the ongoing, unstoppable force of the water and the narrative.
Irony and Understatement
The poem is rich with irony, particularly in the stark contrast between the celebratory verses of the poets and the tragic reality of the flood’s impact. This situational irony highlights a disconnect between perception and truth. Ramanujan’s masterful use of understatement, presenting devastating events in a calm, almost detached tone, actually heightens the emotional impact. By not overtly dramatizing the tragedies, the poem allows the reader to feel the profound weight of the losses more acutely.
Conclusion
“A River” is a deceptively simple yet profoundly moving poem that offers a deep reflection on life, loss, and the role of art. A.K. Ramanujan’s expert use of imagery, understatement, and various poetic devices creates a haunting and unforgettable portrait of a river. More importantly, it portrays the lives of the people intertwined with its powerful ebb and flow. The poem serves as a powerful reminder that truly meaningful art must not shy away from acknowledging suffering. Instead, it should bear witness to the full spectrum of human experience, giving voice to the stories that are often left untold.