Introduction of the Poem:
This short poem entitled “The Striders”, consisting of only fifteen lines (and most of the lines are short too, some consisting of only one or two words) describes the behaviour of a certain kind of water - bug. What attracted Ramanujan to this water - bug we do not know; but the poem shows Ramanujan's observant nature and his interest in the animal world. He has written a poem about snakes; and this one is about an insect; and, as in the poem Snakes, here too it is the imagery that is noteworthy. As in that poem, the imagery is concrete and vivid. To compare a small insect to a prophet shows the poet's sense of humour at work. If Moses could walk upon water, this insect treats the surface of water as its natural element, and perches on it lightly, and without any sense of danger.
Critical Analysis of the Poem:
“The Striders” is the title poem of Ramanujan's first volume of poetry, entitled The Striders which was published in 1966. This poem has been immensely popular. Several buses in Chicago display a poem of his, entitled “The Striders”, chosen by the Illinois Arts Council. This poem presents some of the outstanding qualities of Ramanujan's poetic art - vivid and picturesque imagery, precise and concrete sculpturesque effects, matchless craftsmanship of language and style.
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Ramanujan has a thorough knowledge of the physiognomy of the particular insect and shows an insight into its characteristic quality. The striders are a kind of New England waterbugs. K. A. Panikar writes about The Striders: “It would be interesting to compare the opening poem “The Striders” with Yeats’ “The Long - Legged Fly”. Yeats would have the fly symbolise the multiplicity of concepts; Ramanujan, I believe, presents the striders in their moment - to - moment activity without pausing for striking supernatural effects. The contrast with prophets apparently emphasizes the tone of deflation, for the poets are not alone in walking on water, the striders can also do so.
Ramanujan's description of the striders is picturesque. The motion, the habits and the physiognomy of the insect is portrayed in precise, pointed and suggestive diction:
“And search
For certain thin
stemmed, bubble - eyed water bugs.
see them perch
on dry capillary legs
weightless
on the ripple skin
of a stream.”
The following image evokes a spiritual dimension:
No, not only prophets
walk on water. This bug sits
on a landslide of lights
and drowns eye—
deep
into its tiny strip
of sky.”
The waterbug sits with equal ease on land and in water and thus it stands striking comparison with the supernal power of the prophets who walk on water. The vivid and picturesque diction adds to the beauty and precision of style. Highly evocative and suggestive phrases, as “thin - stemmed, bubble – eyed”, “capillary legs”, “a landslide of lights” and “thin strip of sky” -recur in memory.