Small Towns and the River by Mamang Dai
Small Towns and the River by Mamang Dai Line-by-line Paraphrase (Please keep a copy of the poem from your textbook before you to read line by line paraphrase. Poem cannot be published due to copyright reasons) 1. Small towns make the poet think constantly of death. 2. Her hometown is quiet and peaceful, surrounded by trees. 3. The town never changes. 4. The sameness continues in every season. 5. Dust is always present, filling the air. 6. Strong winds blow noisily through the deep valley. 7. Recently, a person passed away in the town. 8. People cried quietly in a heavy, fearful silence. 9. They gazed at funeral flowers symbolizing grief and death. 10. Life and death keep occurring repeatedly. 11. Only traditional customs continue unchanged, even as people die. 12. The river is alive and spiritual. 13. During summer, the river forcefully flows through the land cutting it. 14. Its movement resembles overwhelming sorrow like flood. At certain moments, 15. Occasionally, the poet...