Question

How does the poet depict the eternal nature of the river in the poem, Small Towns and the River?

Write your answer in 100-150 words incorporating the following details.

• Journey of the river through the land and the town
• Poet’s view of the river

Answer 1

In Small Towns and the River, Mamang Dai writes about the river as if it were an endless, living thing with a soul. The river represents stability and continuity in a world where everything changes quickly. The river flows through land and town. In the summer, it surges like a “torrent of grief,” but it longs for the calm “land of fish and stars.” This difference makes it related to both nature and feelings. As the author sees it, the river is an eternal force that flows from the first drop of rain to the mist on the mountaintops. It shows how life is like a cycle, which is different from the townpeople’s short lives. The author sees the river as both a real and a spiritual presence. It stands for the never-ending flow of life and the ceremonies that connect the living and the dead. People in the town want to “walk with the gods” along its everlasting waters because it gives them comfort and a sense of link to something bigger.