A poem about death—and life—from the 12th century Tamil woman, poet, and saint Avvaiyar.
Nalvazhi 10, “Andandu thorum purandalum.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
GIVE, EAT, AND LIFE: POEMS OF AVVAIYAR
Red Hen Press, Los Angeles
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From and about Give, Eat, and Live: Poems of Avvaiyar.
A poem about death—and life—from the 12th century Tamil woman, poet, and saint Avvaiyar.
Even if you wallow, weeping year after year,
Will those who have died come back?
You of this earth
Weep not. That too is our way. Till going, give
—what is it to us?—give, eat, and live.
Nalvazhi 10, “Andandu thorum purandalum.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
GIVE, EAT, AND LIFE: POEMS OF AVVAIYAR
Red Hen Press, Los Angeles
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Here’s a poem about knowledge, humility, and always continuing to learn, from the 12th century Tamil woman, poet, and saint Avvaiyar.
What we know: a handful of dirt. What we don’t:
The width of the world. The goddess of learning
Keeps learning.
So, poets, don’t bet and talk big.
The body of an ant, too, is eight spans.
“Katrathu kaiman alavu.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
GIVE, EAT, AND LIFE: POEMS OF AVVAIYAR
Red Hen Press, Los Angeles
A poem about restraint, patience, and surprise, from the 12th century Tamil woman, poet, and saint Avvaiyar.
Don’t think to conquer the one who holds back,
Concluding he must lack sense.
Perched on the sluicegate
Letting the running fish run, the white crane
Waits for the catch.
Moothurai 16, “Adakkam udayar arivilar.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
GIVE, EAT, AND LIFE: POEMS OF AVVAIYAR
Red Hen Press, Los Angeles
A poem about staying close to goodness, from the 12th century Tamil woman, poet, and saint Avvaiyar.
To behold a good person is good. To hear
His words full of goodness is good.
To speak
Of a good person’s character is good. Good
To find a place in his company.
Moothurai 8, “Nallarai kanbathum nandre.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
GIVE, EAT, AND LIFE: POEMS OF AVVAIYAR
Red Hen Press, Los Angeles
A poem about true friendship by the 12th century Tamil woman, poet, and saint Avvaiyar. From her collection, “The Word that Endures.”
Like water birds that leave a dried-up lake
Those who flee trouble are not friends.
Like the lilies
And lotuses staying in that lake,
Those who stick with you—friends.
Moothurai 17, “Atra kulathil aruneer paravai pol.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
GIVE, EAT, AND LIFE: POEMS OF AVVAIYAR
Red Hen Press, Los Angeles