SMALL TOWNS AND THE RIVER

-Mamang Dai

It is a free-verse, meditative lyric drawing on Arunachal

Pradesh’s scenery and customs. Dai uses her hometown’s
imagery (gorges, rivers, forests) to explore universal themes. The
title itself suggests a link between rustic life and nature’s flow.
Themes:
“Small Towns and the River” interweaves several major themes:
 Mortality and Death: The poem repeatedly links the small
town with death. Phrases like “Small towns always remind
me of death” and the imagery of funerals (tuberose
wreaths, burial rituals) establish death as ever-present. It
suggests that in these towns, death is a common, palpable
reality.
 Life vs. Death (Cycle of Life): Dai emphasizes the transient
nature of life and the cycle of life-and-death (repeating “life
and death, life and death”). She notes that while life and
death alternate, “only the rituals are permanent”,
highlighting human attempts to find permanence through
customs.
 Nature’s Permanence/Immortality: The river symbolizes
eternity and the unbroken flow of nature. Lines like “The
river has a soul” and “the immortality of water” suggest
that the river endures through seasons and generations.
Nature (rain, mist, sun) forms a continuous cycle that
contrasts with human mortality.
 Spirituality and Afterlife: The poem is suffused with spiritual
imagery. The dead face west (sunset) while souls ascend
east to the “house of the sun”. The final line—“we all want
to walk with the gods.”—reveals a communal longing for
reunion with the divine after death. Thus, faith and hope
beyond death are central.
 Memory and Childhood: A “shrine of happy pictures” evokes
cherished childhood memories. These happy days
(beginning of life) are preserved in memory like a sacred
shrine. This contrasts with the anxiety about the future and
death in adulthood.
  Permanence vs. Impermanence: The tension between what
lasts and what fades runs through the poem. Small-town life
is unchanged by seasons (perpetual sameness of dust and
wind) and rituals endure, but people and their lives are
fleeting. The river’s soul and water’s immortality underscore
permanence in nature.
Important Lines (Key Quotations):
Dai uses striking lines to convey the poem’s meaning:
 “Small towns always remind me of death.” – Opens the
poem with a paradox. Small towns seem tranquil, yet here
they constantly evoke mortality. This line sets a gloomy,
reflective tone and links rural life to death’s inevitability.
 “Life and death, life and death / only the rituals are
permanent.” – The repetition emphasizes the ongoing cycle
of living and dying. The idea that only rituals last suggests
that customs (funerals, prayers) are humanity’s answer to
impermanence, as everything else (life itself) passes away.
 “The river has a soul… the immortality of water.” –
Introducing and repeating “The river has a soul” personifies
the river as a living entity. It “knows” nature’s full cycle
from rain to mist. Declaring water immortal highlights
nature’s enduring continuity, contrasting human finitude.
 “A shrine of happy pictures… childhood.” – Childhood
memories are likened to a sacred shrine. This imagery
underlines the purity and lasting value of early happiness, in
contrast with adult worries.
 “The dead are placed pointing west… walk into the golden
east, the house of the sun.” – These lines illustrate funeral
rituals and faith. Facing west (where the sun sets)
symbolizes death’s end; the soul’s journey eastward
(sunrise) toward a “house of the sun” implies rebirth or
heaven.
 “In small towns by the river / we all want to walk with the
gods.” – The poem’s final line unites all themes. It suggests
that despite everyday sorrows, the people yearn for divine
connection after life. This peaceful, longing tone shows
acceptance and spiritual hope.
Line-by-Line Explanation:
Below is a detailed breakdown of the poem’s stanzas and lines,
explaining their meaning and significance.
Stanza 1 (Lines 1–6):
“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 down the
gorge.”
-The speaker begins with a paradox:
the small town is tranquil but evokes death. The town is
described as static (“always the same”), hinting at a life without
change. Dust blowing and wind howling in the gorge create a
stark, gloomy landscape. This imagery (dry dust, howling wind)
reinforces a mood of desolation. In summary, the town’s stillness
and harsh environment mirror the theme of mortality.
Key points: Life in the speaker’s hometown feels stagnant and
deathly. The relentless dust and wind underline the harshness of
small-town life.
Stanza 2 (Lines 7–11):
“Just the other day someone died. / In the dreadful silence we
wept / looking at the sad wreath of tuberoses. / Life and death,
life and death, / only the rituals are permanent.”
-A death has occurred in the
town. “Dreadful silence” and a “sad wreath of tuberoses” (white
flowers used in funerals) convey the mourning. Seeing the
tuberose wreath reminds the speaker of mortality. The repetition
“Life and death, life and death” underscores the never-ending
cycle of births and deaths. The final line says that apart from
these rituals (funeral rites), nothing is permanent. It suggests a
bitter insight: while life fades, cultural rituals endure. The
speaker’s use of repetition and epigram (pithy statement)
emphasizes the poet’s disillusionment with life’s fleeting nature.
Key points: The town mourns another death, highlighting death’s
frequency. Repeated “life and death” conveys cyclical reality,
while rituals are the only constant.
Stanza 3 (Lines 12–16):
“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.”
 -Here the focus shifts from death to
the river. Declaring “The river has a soul” personifies it. In dry
summer, the river flows forcefully “like a torrent of grief” – a
simile that connects the river’s power to human sorrow. The
repetition “sometimes, sometimes” slows the rhythm, as if the
river pauses “holds its breath”. It seeks “a land of fish and
stars”, an evocative image of a mystical place of life (fish) and
wonder (stars). This suggests the river yearns for renewal or a
spiritual destination. Overall, the stanza contrasts the heaviness
of death with the river’s almost sentient, aspirational journey.
Key points: The river is alive with emotion. The “torrent of grief”
simile shows the river’s might and sorrow. The river’s quest for a
“land of fish and stars” opens a vision of hope and eternal
wonder.
Stanza 4 (Lines 17–20):
“The river has a soul. / It knows, stretching past the town, / from
the first drop of rain to dry earth / and mist on the mountaintops,
/ the river knows / the immortality of water.”
-The refrain “The river has a soul” is
repeated, emphasizing its living presence. The river “knows” all:
from the first rains that renew the earth to the mist on distant
peaks. It understands “the immortality of water”. In other words,
water (and thus life) is eternal, cycling endlessly. This stanza
asserts nature’s continuity: though individual lives end, the river
keeps the memory of every drop. The imagery connects rain,
earth, mountains and mist into one vast life-cycle, culminating in
the idea that water itself cannot die.
Key points: The river’s soul links every part of nature. Rain,
earth, and mist form a continuous cycle. By stating water’s
immortality, the stanza suggests nature’s unbroken continuity
despite human mortality.
Stanza 5 (Lines 21–26):
“A shrine 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.”
-“Shrine of happy pictures” is a metaphor
for childhood memories. Those happy days are preserved and
sacred. In contrast, small towns “grow with anxiety” about
what’s to come, reflecting fear of old age and death. The lines
about the dead facing west and the soul moving east describe a
burial belief: bodies are laid to face the setting sun (west), while
souls head toward the rising sun (east). The “house of the sun”
implies an afterlife or rebirth. This stanza weaves together
nostalgia (childhood), communal worry (future), and spiritual
hope (sunrise). The directional imagery (west/east) underscores
endings and new beginnings.
Key points: Happy childhood memories are revered (“shrine”).
Townspeople fear the future. Death rituals place bodies west at
sunset; the soul’s journey east to the “house of the sun”
symbolizes rebirth or union with the divine.
Stanza 6 (Lines 27–29):
“In the cool bamboo, / restored in sunlight, / life matters, like
this.”
-Here the poet uses a natural
image: bamboo plants feel cool but are revived by sunlight. This
reflects the idea that life (the bamboo/body) is made beautiful
and meaningful by the warmth of the sun (symbolizing the soul
or spirit). Even though life is temporary (“like this”), it is worth
living. The juxtaposition of “cool bamboo” and “restored in
sunlight” suggests that hardships (cool shade) are relieved by
hope and spirit (sunlight). “Life matters, like this” affirms that
experiencing these simple moments of nature is what makes life
important.
Key points: Bamboo (body) and sunlight (soul) metaphor: life is
transient but beautiful when nourished. The line expresses
acceptance of life’s brevity and the significance of present
experiences.
Stanza 7 (Lines 30–31):
“In small towns by the river / we all want to walk with the gods.”
-The closing lines generalize the poem’s
reflections. Living in these quiet towns makes people yearn for a
spiritual journey after death. “Walk with the gods” suggests
unity with nature and the divine. It ties together the poem’s key
ideas: in the face of mortality and anxiety, faith and aspiration
persist. The tone is serene and hopeful, indicating communal
acceptance of life’s cycle and a shared desire for something
beyond.
Key points: Final message: the townsfolk (and speaker) aspire for
a divine union after life. This peaceful wish reflects faith, hope,
and the influence of nature in guiding that belief.
Poetic Devices:
Dai uses several literary devices and techniques to enrich the
poem:
 Paradox: Right at the start, “Small towns always remind me
of death” is paradoxical – small towns are peaceful, yet here
symbolically linked to death. The closing line also contains
paradox: in mundane towns, people yearn for divine
communion.
 Personification: Non-human elements are given life. The
river “has a soul” and “knows” things. Dust and wind are
described as active (dust “flying”, wind “howling”). This
makes nature seem alive and conscious.
 Repetition & Refrain: Key lines and phrases repeat for
emphasis. “The river has a soul” appears twice,
underscoring its importance. “Life and death, life and
death” is repeated to echo the endless cycle.
 Metaphor & Simile: The river is compared to grief: “a torrent
of grief”. Childhood photos become a “shrine” (metaphor)
for innocence. Such figures of speech deepen the emotional
resonance.
 Epigram: The couplet “Life and death, life and death, / only
the rituals are permanent.” is pithy and memorable, turning
a common saying on its head.
 Alliteration & Assonance: Subtle sound devices appear (e.g.,
the soft “cool bamboo / restored in sunlight”, or the
repeated “s” and “l” sounds) to create a flowing, lyrical
quality. Alliteration is also noted in “mist on the
mountaintops”.
 Symbolism: Objects carry deeper meaning. The river
symbolizes life’s flow and continuity; tuberoses (funeral
wreath) symbolize death; east and west symbolize
death/endings and rebirth.
 Imagery: Rich visual and sensory imagery (dust, flowers,
mist, sunlight) makes the poem vivid.
Imagery:
The poem is full of striking images that appeal to the senses:
 Dust Flying; Wind Howling: These images in the first stanza
evoke a barren, unchanging landscape, creating a bleak,
almost eerie mood. The howling wind suggests loneliness
and wild nature.
 Wreath of Tuberoses: A visual of white funeral flowers on a
coffin. This somber image signifies mourning and death.
 Torrent of Grief: A powerful simile – we see a raging river
like a force of sorrow. It combines visual (rushing water) and
emotional imagery.
 Land of Fish and Stars: A magical, other-worldly image. It
suggests an underwater or celestial realm – combining the
familiar (fish) with the infinite (stars) to imply mystery
beyond life.
 Mist on the Mountaintops: Evokes quiet beauty – mist
clinging to peaks (soft, ethereal). It moves “like a scarf”,
linking earth and sky.
 Shrine of Happy Pictures: Conjures an album of childhood
photos placed like offerings. The “shrine” image sanctifies
those memories.
 Golden East; House of the Sun: Vividly pictures sunrise. The
east and sun imagery symbolize hope, rebirth, and paradise.
 Cool Bamboo in Sunlight: A tactile and visual image – the
cool green bamboo warmed by golden light. It suggests
comfort, growth and renewal.
 Walking with the Gods: A figurative image of joining deities,
implying peace and unity with the universe.
Each of these images reinforces the poem’s mood or message –
from the starkness of death to the beauty of life and hope.
Conclusion
“Small Towns and the River” by Mamang Dai is a deeply
reflective meditation on the cycle of life and death, the
permanence of nature, and the spiritual aspirations of humanity.
Through vivid imagery, personification, and evocative symbolism,
Dai contrasts the fleeting nature of human existence and rituals
with the eternal flow of the river and the enduring landscape of
her homeland. The poem’s quiet, contemplative tone invites
readers to ponder mortality, memory, and the search for meaning
beyond the physical world. Ultimately, Dai suggests that while
life is transient and filled with anxieties, there is solace and hope
in nature’s continuity and in the human longing to “walk with the
gods.” The poem leaves us with a sense of acceptance, peace,
and a profound connection to the natural and spiritual worlds.