In “Elements of Composition,” A.K. Ramanujan talks about the different things that make up human life, drawing from science, culture, and personal experiences. The poem reflects on the complex makeup of life, emphasizing how various things are connected.

Ramanujan starts by recognizing the common things that make up people, like a dad’s seed and a mom’s egg, which gather earth, air, fire, water, and more. The poet describes the complex process of shaping these things into a dynamic and self-aware person, tangled in experiences of love, work, and unsettling dreams.

The poem uses vivid images and memories, including the shadow-play of the poet’s uncle with eleven fingers, creating illusions of kings and hissing cats. There’s a reflection on the panic seen in the sister’s face before her wedding, represented by an old newspaper map of an unfamiliar place, possibly affected by riots.

The narrative explores the different scenes of the lepers of Madurai, with lion faces and crab claws, compared to the stone-eyed goddesses of dance in the Meenakshi temple. This contrast emphasizes the variety of existence, from the strange to the beautiful.

Ramanujan expressively talks about the temporary nature of life, emphasizing the passing of affections, seeds, and skeletons. The imagery includes lepers, mayflies, and fossil records, symbolizing the short-lived and fragile aspects of human existence.

The ending lines talk about the continuous cycle of life and death, using the metaphor of a caterpillar on a leaf, eating and being eaten. The poet thinks about the breakdown of things, the transformation into other names and forms, and the timeless nature of existence.

“Elements of Composition” encourages readers to think about the intricate makeup of life, the temporary nature of human experiences, and how different things are connected to shape our existence. Ramanujan’s use of various images and memories creates a rich and layered exploration of the human condition.