the
boatride
– Arun Kolatkar
the long hooked poles
know the nooks and crannies
find flaws in stonework
or grappling with granite
ignite a flutter
of unexpected pigeons
and the boat is jockeyed away from
the landing
after a pair of knees
has shot up and streaked
down the mast after
the confusion of hands about
the rigging
an off white miracle
the sail
spreads
because a sailor waved
back
to a boy
another boy
waves to another sailor
in the clarity of air
the gesture withers for want
of correspondence and
the hand that returns to him
the hand his knee accepts
as his own
is the hand
of an aged person
a hand
that must remain patient
and give the boy it’s a part of
time
to catch up
frozen in a suit the foreman
self-conscious beside
his more self-conscious spouse
finds illegible the palm that opens
demandingly before him
the mould of his hands
broken about his right knee
he reaches for a plastic wallet
he pays the fares
along the rim of the boat
lightly the man rests his arm
without brushing against
his woman’s shoulder
gold
and sunlight
fight
for the possession of her throat
when she shifts
in the wooden seat
and the newly weds exchange
smiles for small profit
show me a foreman he says
to himself
who knows
his centreless grinding
oilfired saltbath furnace better
than i do
and swears
at the seagull
who invents
on the spur of the air
what is clearly the whitest inflection
known
and what is
clearly for the seagull
over and above the waves
a matter of course
the speedboat swerves off
leaving behind a divergence of sea
and the whole harbour all
that floats must bear
the briny brunt
the sailboat
hurl its hulk over
burly rollers
surmounted soon in leaps
and bounds
a gull hitched on hump
the long trail toils on
bringing to every craft
a measure of imbalance
a jolt for a dinghy
a fillip to a schooner
a swagger to a ketch
and after the sea wall
scabby and vicious with shells
has scalped the surge
after the backwash
has reverted to the bulk of water
all things that float
resume
a normal vacillation
winds bargaining over
his shrunken head
the mousy patriarch overgrown
with grandchildren
classifies a ship
first asserts and then proves
to the newest generation
that sea water
is salty
with the authority
of age you’ll get
he tells the youngest
wet
so putting in a nutshell
the dire consequence
of falling in water
the child cogitates
while the eyes of his
contemporaries
are already riveted
proudly to the portuguese ship they learn
the indians captured
his wife has dismissed
the waves like a queen
a band of oiled
acrobats
if her shuttered eyes
move in dark circles
they move against her will
winds
like the fingers
of an archaeologist
move across her stony face
and across the worn
edict of a smile
cut thereon
her husband in chains
is brought before her
he clanks and grovels
throw him to the wolves
she says
staring fixedly
at a hair in his right nostril
impatient with the surrounding gallons
of boredom spuming the rowdy
intangibles of waves
a two-year-old renounces
his mother’s ear
and begins to cascade
down her person
rejecting her tattooed arm
denying her thighs
undaunted by her knees
and further down
her shanks
devolving
he demands
balloons
and balloons
from father to son
are handed
down
closer to keel than all
elders are
and down there
honoured among boots
chappals and bare feet
he goes into a huddle with
the balloons
coming to grips
with one
being persuasive
with another
and setting an example
by punishing a third
two sisters
that came
last
when the boat
nearly started
seated side
by side
athwart
on a plank
have not
spoken
hands in lap
they have
been looking
past the boatman’s
profile
splicing
the wrinkles
of his saline
face
and loose ends
of the sea
familiar perspectives
reoccupy
a cleanlier eye
sad as a century
the gateway of india
struggles back to its feet
wobbly but sober enough
to account for itself
details approach our memory
ingratiatingly
we are prepared to welcome
a more realistic sense
of proportion
a wind comes carrying
the microbe
of a melody
where the sea jostles
against the wall
vacuous sailboats snuggle
tall and gawky
their masts at variance
islam
mary
dolphin
their names appearing
music
a black back turned
on all the waters of the arabic sea
a man plays on a bulbul tarangl
alone on the last boat
and facing the wall
the boat courses around
to sidle up
against the landing
the wall sweeps by
magisterially
superseding
the music man
an expanse of
unswerving stone
encrusted coarsely
with shells
admonishes our sight
Q. Write a critical analysis of the poem “the
boatride” by Arun Kolatkar.
Ans. The poem “The Boatride”
by Arun Kolatkar is a rich and vivid exploration of a boat journey and the
diverse experiences and observations that unfold within it. The poem captures a
wide range of characters and scenes, each offering glimpses into human
interactions, the power of nature, and the complexities of life.
The poem begins with the description of the boatride itself, as the long
hooked poles navigate the waters and encounter various elements along the way.
The imagery of flaws in stonework and grappling with granite suggests a
struggle against the challenges and obstacles encountered in life. The
unexpected pigeons and the jockeying of the boat create a sense of movement and
liveliness.
There is a juxtaposition between the lively atmosphere of the boatride and
the contemplation of mortality. The mention of funeral pyres and the hand of an
aged person emphasizes the transient nature of life and the passing of time.
The idea of patience and acceptance in the face of aging and mortality is
explored through the interaction between the aged person and the boy.
The poem also touches on social dynamics and class distinctions. The
foreman’s self-consciousness, the demandingly open palm, and the interaction
between the foreman and his spouse highlight the complexities and power
dynamics within relationships and society. The subtle gestures and observations
of the newlyweds and the foreman reflect the nuances of human behavior and the
pursuit of personal significance.
Nature plays a significant role in the poem, with the sea and its waves
symbolizing both power and balance. The boat’s movement on the water, the
interactions with seagulls, and the imagery of wind bargaining over the
protagonist’s head all evoke a sense of the ever-present natural world and its
impact on human experiences.
The poem also presents glimpses into historical and cultural aspects.
References to Portuguese ships and the capturing of Indians by the Portuguese
highlight the colonial past and its influence on the Indian psyche. The Gateway
of India and the Arabian Sea serve as symbolic landmarks, representing
historical and geographical significance.
The language and imagery employed in the poem are evocative and create a
vivid sensory experience for the reader. The poet’s attention to detail, such
as the splicing of wrinkles and the loose ends of the sea, enhances the visual
and tactile elements of the poem.
To conclude, “The Boatride” is a multifaceted poem that delves
into themes of mortality, social dynamics, nature, and history. Through its
rich imagery and astute observations, the poem offers a thought-provoking
exploration of human experiences within the context of a boat journey, inviting
readers to contemplate the complexities and fleeting moments of life.
