The document summarizes the first stanza of a poem about a river in Madurai, India. It describes how the river dries up in the summer, leaving only a trickle of water in the sand. While other poets have glorified the river during floods, this poem presents the river in its dry and depleted state, with straw, hair, and rust clogging its waters and buffalo lounging on the dry riverbed stones. The summary critiques other poets for only praising the river during floods and fails to acknowledge its dry summer state.

1. A RIVER AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST STANZA I BA LITERATURE IV HOUR 13 TH JULY 2011 SPIC HALL BY S. NEHRU

2. IMPORTANT IDEAS This poem is a critique of the poets praising only the glory of the river Ramanujan presents what the other poets failed to do Poets, both ancient and modern simply glorified the river Ramanujan says that their claims may be true only once in a year

3. IMPORTANT IDEAS Flooding of river is not only a sign of prosperity but also a cover for the fatal consequences of the same Flood is capable of bringing adversity at times Summer takes away the charm of the river The symbol of cow and buffalo is effectively used He presents identical twins [cows]. They signify the old and new poets who glorified the river

4. 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 watergates 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.

5. In Madurai, city of temples and poets, Madurai is a city of temples. It is also a City of poets. Several poets lived in Madurai And contributed for poetry who sang of cities and temples, The poets sang about cities and temples. Madurai is described here.

6. every summer a river dries to a trickle in the sand, In Madurai the poet goes to a river. It may be any river He did not use definite article. Though the poet did not mention The name of the river it is evident that he speaks of the River Vaigai Trickle means, water falling in drops or flowing in to thin stream. In the sand one could find the flow of few drops. Here the river in summer is Described when there is no water Usually poets praise the river when it is flooded. But, Ramanujan is unusual in Presenting the dry river

7. baring the sand ribs, Sand ribs The river is left only with thin stream Of water and sand ribs

8. straw and women's hair clogging the watergates Water gates are the opening for the water through which water passes Obstructing or hindering-clogging The straw and women’s hair prevent water from flowing out of water Gates. Here the scarcity of water in the river is presented.

9. at the rusty bars under the bridges with patches of repair all over them Under the bridges the iron bars gained rust. And the bridge required Repair in some parts. The bridge was used less because there was no water Rust formation. Rust is formed When iron material is not maintained. Rust is the formation of brown layer in The iron. When any iron object is not in use for long time rust is formed

10. the wet stones glistening like sleepy crocodiles The wet stones are shining like sleeping crocodiles

11. the dry ones shaven water-buffaloes lounging in the sun Buffalo lounging in the sun. Lounging-wandering-moving from Here and there The dry stones look like the buffalo

12. The poets only sang of the floods. Here the poet finds fault with other poets saying That they sang only about floods. Before Charging so the poet brings out the river when It is dry during summer.

13. In the first stanza the poet introduces a river. He presents the river when it is dry. He presents images to suggest the dryness of the river. Towards the end he says that the other poets sang the praise of the river when it is flooded. First Stanza Summary

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