Q.Describe how AK Ramanujan creates a visual imagery of the water bug.

 Q.Describe how AK Ramanujan creates a visual imagery of the water bug.

In the first stanza of the poem, the poet describes the location and physical characteristics of a water insect. The poet urges the reader to pay attention and search for this particular bug, which has small legs and "bubble-eyed" appearance. This bug is able to perch or rest on the water's surface using its dry, thin legs, which do not weigh enough to sink or drown. It is described as weightless and floats dynamically on the water's surface as the stream flows back and forth. The poet carefully observes the bug's physical features and its ability to move from one place to another by riding on the ripples or small waves created by the water's movement. Due to its lack of weight and its dry legs, the bug can comfortably rest on the flowing water without being disturbed or submerged.

In the second stanza, the poet draws a comparison between the water bug and two Biblical figures, Moses and Jesus Christ. Moses famously led the Israelites through the Nile River, parting the waters, while Jesus is known for walking on water in the Bible. By alluding to these prophets, the poet attributes special qualities to the water bug, suggesting that it possesses similar extraordinary abilities. The poet then describes how the bug lies on the surface of the water, surrounded by the scattering and reflection of light. The bug's eyes, resembling drowned eyes, make it appear as if it is floating in the sky. However, the bug's sky is just a "tiny strip" because only a portion of the sky is reflected or scattered on the rippling water's surface, creating the illusion of the bug floating in a miniature reflected sky.