The poem “Bird Talk” by A.K. Ramanujan explores communication between birds and what their songs might mean. The poem provides imaginative interpretations of the sounds made by different types of birds, suggesting they have complex conversations and relationships. By personifying the birds, Ramanujan gives them human-like personalities and social behaviors. The central question raised is: who are “they” that the birds are talking about? The birds seem to be gossiping and whispering about some unknown “they,” leading readers to wonder who the birds are discussing.
About the Poem
“Bird Talk” was written by A.K. Ramanujan, an Indian poet, scholar, and writer who lived from 1929 to 1993. He wrote poems and academic papers in both English and Kannada. His poetry often explored themes related to Indian culture and mythology. “Bird Talk” was published in Ramanujan’s collection of poems titled The Striders which was released in 1966.
The poem consists of five stanzas, each describing a different type of bird through imaginative interpretations of their calls. The specific birds referenced are the crow, francolin, parrot, myna, and wagtail. Throughout the poem, the calls of the birds are depicted as conversations, questions, and gossip about the unknown “they.”
Stanza 1 – The Crow
The first stanza focuses on the crow, whose call is interpreted as saying “They’re coming, they’ll be here, where are they?” This establishes the central mystery and tension in the poem – who are “they” that the crows seems to be anxiously awaiting and discussing?
Line | Text | Analysis |
---|---|---|
1 | The crow says, They’re coming, they’ll be here, where are they? | Personifies the crow’s call as anxious questions about “they” |
By opening the poem with the crow nervously questioning some expected arrival, Ramanujan immediately hooks the reader into wondering who “they” could be. The crow’s call sounds like an anxious lookout or sentry.
Stanza 2 – The Francolin
The second stanza moves to the calls of the francolin, a type of bird in the pheasant family. Their calls are interpreted as saying “They’re here, they’re here…gone! gone!”
Line | Text | Analysis |
---|---|---|
6 | The francolins call. They’re here, they’re here…gone! gone! | Depicts the francolin’s cry as announcing the arrival then departure of “they” |
So now the francolins seem to be proclaiming that the anticipated “they” have arrived but then suddenly disappeared again. This adds to the mystery and strangeness around who “they” could possibly be.
Stanza 3 – The Parrot
In the third stanza, the parrot gets a turn to contribute to the bird gossip. Its repetitive squawks are translated as:
Line | Text | Analysis |
---|---|---|
11 | The parrots, wing to wing, walk their cage saying, What’s wrong with They? What’s wrong with They? | Depicts parrots questioning what is “wrong with They,” implying some negativity |
With this stanza, Ramanujan suggests there may be some defect or problem with the mysterious “they.” The parrots seem concerned that there is something unsavory about “they” based on what the other birds are saying.
Stanza 4 – The Myna
Next, the myna bird adds its perspective in a singing tone:
Line | Text | Analysis |
---|---|---|
16 | The mynas sing, They did it, they did it again, they did it again! | Mynas sing an accusation that “they” repeatedly “did it” (something bad) |
With this stanza, Ramanujan makes a clearer insinuation that “they” have done something wrong over and over. Though we still do not know who “they” are, the gossip of the birds implies some misdeed.
Stanza 5 – The Wagtail
Finally, the poem ends with the wagtail’s contribution to the bird chatter:
Line | Text | Analysis |
---|---|---|
21 | The wagtail says, They’re gone, they’re gone, they’re gone for sure. | Wagtail seems to confirm that “they” have definitively gone away |
With its simple declaration, the wagtail seems to be confirming that “they” – whoever the mysterious culprits are – have departed. While many questions remain, the reader is left with the sense that some unknown “they” arrived, were deemed unsavory in some way by the gossiping birds, and then disappeared again.
Interpretations
Ramanujan leaves the identity of “they” open to interpretation. Here are some possible readings:
They as Humans
One possibility is that “they” refers to humans. The different birds could represent how humans are viewed by other creatures. The francolin’s cry that “they’re here, they’re here” may suggest the disruptive arrival of people. The myna’s song accusing “they” of wrongdoing could refer to harmful human activities like deforestation. And the wagtail’s declaration that “they’re gone” could imply hopes that humans will leave nature alone.
They as Other Creatures
Alternatively, “they” could represent other animals that visit the birds’ environment. The crow may anxiously await their arrival to scout for food scraps they leave behind. The parrots question what’s wrong with them, and the mynas accuse “they” of encroaching on the birds’ territory repeatedly. Finally, the wagtail confirms “they” – perhaps a prowling jungle cat or slithering snake – have moved on.
They as Unknown Threats
More broadly, “they” may represent any unknown threats or changes in the birds’ world. The birds nervously discuss “their” arrival and impact, unsure what new dangers are appearing in their midst. Gossiping about “them” could be the birds’ way of gaining knowledge and security against mysterious forces they don’t understand.
They as Death/Change
Alternatively, “they” could be seen as a metaphor for death or impermanence. The cryptic discussions about some approaching “they” could represent the birds’ own mortality and changes happening in their lives. Their gossip takes on an existential tone, anxiously chattering about forces beyond their control.
Conclusion
In the imaginative “Bird Talk,” Ramanujan uses the sounds of different birds to suggest complex conversations and viewpoints on an unknown “they.” The mysterious identity of this “they” raises questions about otherness, the unknown, and the many possible threats that may arrive and disappear again in the natural world. By giving birds human personalities as gossips, the poet implies that animals have rich communications we cannot fully grasp. While the birds seem to understand who “they” are, readers are left to wonder about the many possible meanings behind the birds’ talk.