2.8 ‘Small Towns and Rivers’ - Learn in a simple way

2.8 Small towns and rivers - Learn in a simple way

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Poem

Small towns always remind me of death.
My hometown lies calmly amidst the trees,
it is always the same,
in summer or winter,
with the dust flying,
or the wind howling (making sound) down the gorge.

Just the other day someone died.
In the dreadful silence we wept
looking at the sad wreath of tuberoses.(रजनीगंधा)
Life and death, life and death,
only the rituals are permanent.

The river has a soul.
In the summer it cuts through the land
like a torrent of grief. Sometimes,
sometimes, I think it holds its breath
seeking a land of fish and stars

The river has a soul.
It knows, stretching (moving) past the town,
from the first drop of rain to dry earth
and mist (cover) on the mountaintops,
the river knows
the immortality of water.

A shrine (holy place) of happy pictures
marks the days of childhood.
Small towns grow with anxiety
for the future.
The dead are placed pointing west.
When the soul rises
it will walk into the golden east,
into the house of the sun.

In the cool bamboo,
restored in sunlight,
life matters, like this.

In small towns by the river
we all want to walk with the gods

The synonyms/ Vocabulary

1. Death - Demise - End - मृत्यू
2. Hometown - Birthplace - Native place - मूळ गाव
3. Calm - Serene - Peaceful - शांत
4. Tree - Woodland - Forest - वृक्ष / झाड
5. Summer - Warm season - Dry season - उन्हाळा
6. Winter - Cold season - Frosty season - हिवाळा
7. Dust - Dirt - Soil - धूळ
8. Wind - Breeze - Air current - वारा
9. Silence - Stillness - Quietness - शांतता
10. Wept - Cried - Sobbed - रडलो
11. Sad - Gloomy - Sorrowful - दुःखी
12. Life - Existence - Living - जीवन
13. Rituals - Traditions - Ceremonies - विधी
14. Permanent - Everlasting - Eternal - कायमचा
15. River - Stream - Watercourse - नदी
16. Grief - Sorrow - Heartache - शोक
17. Breathe - Respire - Inhale - श्वास घेणे
18. Land - Ground - Terrain - जमीन
19. Fish - Aquatic creatures - Pisces - मासे
20. Stars - Celestial bodies - Night lights - तारे
21. Immortality - Eternity - Timelessness - अमरत्व
22. Water - Liquid - H2O - पाणी
23. Shrine - Sanctuary - Holy place - पवित्र स्थान
24. Childhood - Youth - Early years - बालपण
25. Anxiety - Worry - Concern - चिंता
26. Soul - Spirit - Essence - आत्मा
27. Future - Tomorrow - Destiny - भविष्य
28. Sun - Solar body - Day star - सूर्य
29. Gods - Deities - Divine beings - देव

Summary of the poem 

Small towns always remind me of death.
My hometown lies calmly amidst the trees,
it is always the same,
in summer or winter,
with the dust flying,
or the wind howling (making sound) down the gorge.

‘Small Towns and The River’ by Mamang Dai introduces the first paradox of the poem. The poet says the “small towns” remind her of nothing other than death. She lives in a town amidst the trees but the life there is the same. According to the poet, living in the town is a monotonous journey that ends at the hands of death. Here, the dust is a synecdoche that presents another symbol of death in this section. Moreover, the howling of the wind creates a gloomy mood. Here, the use of onomatopoeia resonates with a pessimistic note.

Just the other day someone died.
In the dreadful silence we wept
looking at the sad wreath of tuberoses.(रजनीगंधा)
Life and death, life and death,
only the rituals are permanent.

(Rituals - a religious ceremony विधी)

‘Small Towns and The River’ by Mamang Dai presents the theme of death in the second stanza. Just the other day someone dies in small towns. The news makes the poet sad and she mourns the loss. After seeing the sad wreath lying on a dead person’s bosom somehow reminds the poet of her mortality. Here, the poet presents the tuberose as a messenger of death. Moreover, there is a repetition of “Life and death” in this stanza. It refers to a continuous cycle of life and death. These two things are temporary. According to the poet, “only the rituals are permanent”. Here, the poet turns the maxim, “Nothing is permanent except birth and death”, upside down. The last two lines reflect the poet’s disillusionment about life after seeing many deaths.

The river has a soul.
In the summer it cuts through the land
like a torrent of grief. Sometimes,
sometimes, I think it holds its breath
seeking a land of fish and stars

           In the third, the poet presents a contrast. Whereas in the previous section she discussed mortality. In this section, she highlights the permanence of the river. She says the river has a soul. In summer it flows across lands. Here, she uses the metaphor of “torrent of grief” to portray the river’s course in the dry season. Moreover, the poet personifies the river to invest it with the ideas of holding the breath and seeking something. She thinks as if the river is an explorer who seeks the land of fish and stars. This imagery reflects the course of the river water and its flow.

The river has a soul.
It knows, stretching (moving) past the town,
from the first drop of rain to dry earth
and mist (cover) on the mountaintops,
the river knows
the immortality of water.

      In the fourth stanza, Mamang Dai repeats, “The river has a soul”. The river knows about the towns where death lays her icy hands. Her knowledge isn’t limited to towns only. She knows the first drop of rain that brings life in the dry earth and the mist on the mountaintops that circles the mountain like a scarf. Last but not least, she is aware of the immortality of water. In this way, the poet also immortalizes the river.

A shrine (holy place) of happy pictures
marks the days of childhood.
Small towns grow with anxiety
for the future.
The dead are placed pointing west.
When the soul rises
it will walk into the golden east,
into the house of the sun.

The fifth stanza presents another contrast. Firstly, Mamang Dai refers to the “shrine of happy pictures” of childhood. Childhood is the beginning stage of life. The happy pictures of one’s childhood remind her of the purity of the soul at its dawn. That’s why she compares the childhood days to a shrine. In contrast, small towns grow anxious about the future. It’s the poet’s anxiety about death that eagerly waits in the future. In the following lines, the poet refers to the eternity of the soul. The hope of shedding off the mortal burden and ascending to the “house of the sun” in the “golden east” revives the poet with new energy.

In the cool bamboo,
restored in sunlight,
life matters, like this.

    ‘This short stanza explains the meaning of life and its importance. According to the poet, life is like the sunlight that warms the cool bamboo. It’s temporary and still beautiful. Moreover, the “cool bamboo” is a reference to the body and the sunlight is a symbol of the soul. Apart from that, the poet says sunlight is important to any living plants. Likewise, life is also important for keeping the spirit of the universe alive.

In small towns by the river
we all want to walk with the gods

In the last two lines of ‘Small Towns and The River’, Mamang Dai changes her dead thoughts from her mind. She says living in small towns has made the poet strong. Now, the thoughts of spirituality and eternity are in her mind. Like the poet, others of the “small towns” only wish to “walk with the gods” after their death. This section highlights the poet’s belief in the afterlife and eternal bliss. Apart from that, there is a repetition of the “w” sound in the last line. Such a harmonious rhythm reflects the poet’s peaceful state of mind.

The poem in short

The poem reflects on the serene yet melancholic nature of life in a small town, where life and death coexist in a cycle of permanence. The town, unchanged through seasons, holds a quiet acceptance of mortality, with rituals being the only constant. The river, symbolic of life, has a soul that flows through the land, embodying both grief and immortality. Childhood memories, anxiety for the future, and a desire to connect with the divine are woven into the fabric of the town's existence. Ultimately, the poem contemplates life’s transience and the eternal connection to nature and the divine.

 Brainstorming (Questions and Answers)

(A1) Discuss the importance of Nature in the lives of the people from the Northeastern part of India as expressed in the poem with reference to-
[a] Flowers - Tuberoses are woven into wreaths to be placed on the body of a departed (दिवंगत) as a sign of love and respect
[b] River: The people believe the river has a soul. They respect their rivers and even view it as divine as its water is immortal.

[c] Bamboo: The poet mentions “cool bamboo,” with its green color symbolizing life and peace. The bamboo represents the body, while sunlight represents the soul. Sunlight is essential for all living plants, highlighting the importance of life.

[d] East: The direction of sunrise is very important for the people of Arunachal Pradesh. They ensure the dead are placed pointing west so that their soul directly enters the golden house of the sun. They believe that finally souls must attain the sun's abode in the east.

[A2][i] The poet has described her small town in Arunachal Pradesh. Pick out from the extract, the lines that describe the poet's town.
Ans:1. 'My hometown lies calmly amidst the trees',
2. it is always the same in summer and winter
With the dust flying Or
the wind howling down the gorge'
3. In small towns by the river
we all want to walk with the gods

(ii) Make a list of natural elements mentioned in the poem.
Ans: Earth’ trees, winter, summer, wind, tuberoses, life, land, river, fish, stars, rain, mountaintop, mist.

[iii] The river has a soul.' Elaborate the concept in your words as the poet has explained in the extract.

Ans: When the poet says The River has a soul she personifies the river. The river flows with great force - like a torrent of grief. The river flowing with great force of grief means the poets grief of storm to see the condition of the river. The river is also holding its breath, maybe because it is choking with mire. There are no fishes. So the poet says - I think it holds its breath seeking a land of fish and stars:

(iv) The poet is convinced with the thought of immortality of water. Pick out the relevant lines from the extract.

Ans:  1] The river has a soul'.

 2] the first drop of rain to dry earth

 3] the river knows the immortality of water.         

[v] The poet has used some unconventional expressions.   Illustrate them in your words.

[a] Torrent of grief.

Ans: The poet describes the river flowing in summer with reduced flow of water when the poet sees it and expresses her emotional in great sadness means a great speed of sorrow.

[b] Shrine of happy pictures:

Ans: It is used to express the poet's childhood happy memories related to the divine places her hometown.

[c] The land of fish and stars:

Ans: It is used to tell the fact that the rivers are in poor situation, because she is dry now and she wants to flow again and once again want to return her former glory and become a land for fish and stars as it was in the past.

(vi)The poet is anxious about the existence of natural beauty of her town in the future. But she touches the strings of the hearts while appealing to conserve the Nature. Explain the way she has expressed it in the first and the last line of the poem.

Ans: The poet is anxious about the existence of natural beauty of her town in the future. The poet is appealing to conserve the nature the opening line of the poem- "Small towns always remind me of death." Here, the Death is referred for the destruction of the natural elements like rivers, mountains, trees in the name of development of small towns situated on the banks of river. In the last line of the poem - "In small towns by the river we all want to walk with the gods." The poet appeals that God exists in this nature we should worship him by preserving the natural elements.

(vii) The poet has connected the need to preserve Nature with the belief of particular community and her childhood memories. Write  down  the  measures  you  would  take  to  convince  the  people  regarding the  need  to  conserve  the  Nature.

Ans: We have to aware the people that we are a part of the nature and totally depend on the nature. Saving nature means saving us, I would like to take the following measures to conserve the nature. The first I would teach the children how to save water by telling story, poems, songs, games, cartoons and bring the conservation ideas to young minds. I would spread this to the young ones through the schools, parks and malls.

Third, I would request society to protect the nature using social media to spread various messages/ mottos.

[A3] [i] Write down the expressions related to the seasons' from the extract.

Ans:  1. Summer or winter

2. 'in the summer .
3. rain, mist

[ii] Match column ‘A’ with column 'B.

(A4)  (i) Find out the beauty of the free verse reflected in this poem.

Ans: The poem 'Small cities and the River' is written in free-verse, as there is no rhyme scheme across its seven stanzas. I think due to the use of free verse the poet gets freedom to express her ideas about nature. If she had used rhyme scheme, she would not get free hand to write the poem and the reader would not feel participative experience while reading poem.  

(ii) The Figures of speech:

(ii) Explain the figure of speech.

1] with the dust flying.
Ans: Metaphor because here an indirect comparison between dust flying and death.
Ans: Inversion because here the sentence is not in the correct prose order
The correct prose order is “with the flying dust.”
2] the wind howling down the gorge.
Ans: Onomatopoeia because the word howling suggest sound.
3] Just the other day someone died.
Ans: Inversion because here the sentence is not in the correct prose order
The correct prose order is “Someone died just the other day.”
4] In the dreadful silence we wept.
Ans: Inversion because here the sentence is not in the correct prose order
The correct prose order is “We wept in the dreadful silence.”
5] looking at the sad wreath of tuberoses.(रजनीगंधा).
Ans: Transferred Epithet because an epithet sad has been transferred from person to wreath.
6] Life and death, life and death.
Ans: Antithesis because here two opposite words ' Life and death ' have been used.
Ans: Repetition because here the words ' life and death’ have been repeated
7] The river has a soul.
Ans: Personification because here river has been described having soul.
8] In the summer it cuts through the land.
Ans: Personification because river has been given human quality of cutting land.
9] like a torrent of grief. Sometimes.
Ans: Personification because river has been given human quality of getting unhappy.
10] sometimes, I think it holds its breath.
Ans: Personification because river has been given human quality of holding breath.
11] seeking a land of fish and stars
Ans: Personification because river has been given human quality of seeking something.
12] from the first drop of rain to dry earth.
Ans: Alliteration because here a letter ‘d’ has been repeated
13] and mist on the mountaintops.
Ans: Alliteration because here a letter ‘m’ has been repeated
14] the river knows
Ans: Personification because river has been given human quality of knowing something.
15] A shrine of happy pictures.
Ans: Transferred Epithet because an epithet happy has been transferred from person to picture.
Ans: Personification because picture has been given human quality of being happy.
16] it will walk into the golden east.
Ans: Personification because soul has been given human quality of walking.

17] into the house of the sun.
Ans: Personification because here the sun has been described having house.
18] we all want to walk with the gods
Ans: Metaphor because here an indirect comparison between nature and god.

     Q5. (1) Compose 4 to 6 lines on 

1. Flowers (Tuberoses)
Tuberoses bloom with grace,
Woven into wreaths of peace.
Placed with love on the dead,
A silent tribute of care.

---

2. River’s Soul
The river flows with life,
Its waters never die.
It whispers ancient tales,
Of immortality’s light.

---

3. Cool Bamboo
In cool bamboo we rest,
Green leaves calm the soul.
Sunlight touches each leaf,
Life breathes in its glow.

---

4. Sunlight and Soul
Sunlight wakes the earth,
It feeds both plant and soul.
Through every shining ray,
Life and hope unfold.

---

5. East and Sunrise
The east calls every dawn,
With golden light it shines.
Souls rise to greet the day,
In the sun’s warm embrace.

---

6. Death and Love
When a soul leaves its shell,
Flowers speak of love.
Through silence, we remember,
Life’s fragile, endless cycle.

---

7. Flowing River
The river cuts through land,
A torrent full of grief.
It holds the world’s secrets,
In every drop it breathes.

---

8. Eternal Waters
From rain to mist and cloud,
Water never dies.
It knows its endless path,
Through mountains and the sky.

---

9. Life and Rituals
Life dances with death,
Rituals keep us grounded.
Through seasons they remain,
Anchors to our souls.

---

10. Childhood and Nature
In nature’s arms we played,
Our youth in sunlight stayed.
With rivers, trees, and fields,
Our memories were made.

---

11. 'Gift of the Seasons'.

Rivers running in rainy days,
Tall trees and grow grasses green,
Chill wind blow in winter days,
Birds and bees are also glean,
O, Nature, how beautiful you seem!
You’re just like a beautiful dream.

Poetic Appreciation

(B) Write an appreciation of the poem, 

Ans: Mamang Dai from Arunachal Pradesh is the poet of Small Towns and Rivers. She is a poet, novelist, radio and TV journalist and former civil servant, who writes in English as well as Adi language. She has received Padmashree Award in 2011 and Sahitya Akademi Award in 2017.

     This poem is taken from the collection of the poems, ‘The River Poems’, published in 2004. The poem describes that the river is an important element of the nature. It is based on the belief of the tribal people from the North East that the souls of the beloved one's dwell in the natural elements around us. 

            The theme of the poem is preservation and conservation (पर्यावरणाचे जतन आणि संवर्धन) of natural elements to save the earth as well as all the living beings. It is the anxiety of the poet about the developments in the small towns.

      The poem is written in free-verse, because there is no rhyme scheme used in all seven stanzas. She has used variety of poetic devices like Alliteration, Repetition, Simile, Metaphor, Inversion, Transferred Epithet, Antithesis, Personification etc. The use of personification makes the river alive.

Mamang Dai uses simple and easy language in the poem. It has seven stanzas, but each stanza has a different number of lines, and the length of lines is also different. The poem does not follow any particular rhyme pattern.  

The poet gives us message that we should stop harming the natural elements in our surroundings and focus on protecting and conserving them.

        I like this poem because the poet now lives in the city but she has not forgotten her home town, her language and her tribal culture.