Summary of Mamang Dai The Missing Link

I will remember then
the great river that turned, turning with the fire of the first sun,
away from the old land of red robed men and poisonous ritual,
when the seven brothers fled south disturbing the hornbills in their summer nests.
Remember the flying dust and the wind like a long echo snapping the flight of the river beetle, venomous in the caves
where men and women dwelt facing the night guarding the hooded poison.

The lines seem to describe a vivid and evocative scene. It paints a picture of a great river, flowing with the fiery glow of the first sun, turning away from the land of red-robed men and their poisonous rituals. It mentions seven brothers fleeing south, causing a disturbance among the hornbills in their nests. The imagery continues with flying dust and a wind that echoes like a long snap, disrupting the flight of a river beetle. The caves mentioned are inhabited by men and women, facing the darkness and protecting themselves from the hooded poison.

Overall, these lines seem to depict a moment of movement, change, and danger. It’s like a glimpse into a world where nature and human existence intertwine, where rituals and the forces of nature collide.

There are no records.
The river was the green and white vein of our lives linking new terrain,
in a lust for land brother and brother claiming the sunrise and the sunset, in a dispute settled by the rocks engraved in a vanished land.

These lines suggest that there are no records or documented history of what transpired in the past. The river mentioned in the poem is described as the “green and white vein of our lives,” symbolizing its importance and connection to the people. It served as a link to new territories, and there was a strong desire among brothers to claim the land, as represented by their pursuit of the sunrise and sunset. However, disputes arose, and these conflicts were settled through engraved rocks in a land that no longer exists. This implies a sense of lost history and forgotten stories, leaving behind only traces of the past. It’s a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the impermanence of human endeavors.

I will remember then the fading voices of deaf women framing the root of light in the first stories to the children of the tribe.
Remember the river’s voice:
Where else could we be born where else could we belong if not of memory
divining life and form out of silence.

These lines highlight the importance of memory and storytelling in shaping an individual sense of belonging and understanding of the world. The fading voices of deaf women, despite their hearing impairment, play a crucial role in passing down the ancestral stories to the children of the tribe. These stories hold the root of light, symbolizing knowledge, wisdom, and the essence of life. The river’s voice is also mentioned, emphasizing its significance as a source of inspiration and connection to our origins. It suggests that memory and the stories we inherit are essential in giving meaning and form to our existence, even emerging from the silence. It beautifully captures the power of oral traditions and the role they play in preserving our heritage and shaping our identities.

Water and mist,
the twin gods, water and mist, and the cloud woman always calling from the sanctuary of the gorge
Remember, because nothing is ended but it is changed.
And memory is a changing shape showing with these fading possessions in lands beyond the great ocean that all is changed but not ended.

These lines emphasize the transformative nature of existence and the enduring power of memory. The poem mentions the twin gods of water and mist, along with the cloud woman who calls from the sanctuary of the gorge. This imagery evokes a sense of fluidity and change, symbolized by water and mist. The poem encourages us to remember because nothing truly comes to an end; instead, everything undergoes transformation. Memory is portrayed as a shape-shifting entity, showing us glimpses of the past through fading possessions. It suggests that even in lands beyond the great ocean, where things may seem different, the essence of life remains the same. The lines emphasize the idea that while everything may change, nothing truly reaches a final conclusion. It’s a reminder that the impact of our experiences and the memories an individual hold continue to shape oneself even as the world around oneself evolves.

And in the villages the silent hill men still await the long promised letters, and the meaning of words.

These lines describe the villagers, specifically the silent hill men, who are eagerly waiting for the long-awaited letters and seeking the meaning behind the words. It suggests a sense of anticipation and longing within the community. The mention of the silent hill men implies that they may be isolated or disconnected from the outside world, relying on these promised letters to bridge that gap. The longing for communication and understanding is evident, highlighting the importance of connection and the exchange of ideas. It paints a picture of a community yearning for communication and seeking to unravel the significance behind the words they receive.