“Element Composition” By A.K.Ramanujan

                                  “Element Composition”

                The poem “Element Composition” is taken form book three second sight in “collected poem” . the poem is written by A.K.Ramanujan . it clearly indicates the reflective and meditation mood of him on the process of making human being ideas animal words, insects , art, imagination etc…… he even highlights various elements of composition of different form .finally he even reveals process of decomposition and destruction of any thing on this earth. the poem begins with the following words,

“Composed as I am like others of elements on certain well known lists father’s seed and mother egg ….”

                The poem begins with the description of elements of composition about human being. the poem has pretty and beautiful beginning . the beginning of the poem even highlights the Hindu ideas of the five elements ‘ Panchabhuta’ . these five elements includes ‘earth, fire, wind , water and sky’ . however , this is the religious belief of human existence while at comes to science , it has too odd elements according to Chemistry books.

“……. molding calcium carbon even gold magnesium and such into a chattering self-tangled in love and work”

              Thus the beginning of the poem talks about the composition of self.

             Then Ramanujan talks about the element of beauty , nature and ideas . he suggest that it is necessary to keep eyes moving on everything. because things are in continuous state of flues over a period of time. if we will move eyes constantly then only we will know the “constancy of things”. he even says that we have to be aware like stone henge or the cherry tree.

           Then he even suggest that we have to refer a great work of art, theory and ideas with changing time. otherwise , it will be useless. then, he talks about art of shadow playing he states,

“Add uncle’s eleven fingures making shadow plays of rasas and cats and hissing….”

          The above lines refers a lovely reminiscence of the poet about his uncle’s skill in shadow play. he used eleven fingures to create fascinating images of kings , cats and sounds like hissings then the shadows like hissings then the shadows transform into fingures again this indicates elements of decomposition.

          later, the poet refers the element of composition of fear and tragedy. he talks about his sister’s fear of an impending tragedy just before her wedding. Ramanujan didn’t forget to mention the creation and destruction of some places. riots and such situation are responsible for the decomposition of some ever seen places. now there is twist in the poem. the poet highlights coexistence of two different things together on one   hand there is list of lepers of Madurai. it includes male, female married with children etc……. it highlights the process of decomposition and death.

           while on another hand there is talk about the composition of sculpting art. in Madurai may temples and ancient building are known for sculpting and curving . it indicates lion faces crabs for draws goodness of dance beautiful pillars etc…..

         This details clearly indicates the horrific existence of the lepers of Madurai against the skillful sculptures of goddesses of dance in Meenakshi temple.

         In later part of the poem Ramanujan that the whole world made up of certain elements. since creation and destruction inseparable composition invites decomposition what left behind is records of fossil. Ramanujan says,

“I pass through them as they pass through me taking and leaving affections seeds, skeletons….”

              In other words, we meets things and things meet to us but we can’t stay with anything for ever so everywhere everyone has to move and go on…. but what remain at  last is affections, seed and skeletons…..