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Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

author, poet, teacher, and performer

  • Books
    • THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
    • The Safety of Edges
    • Give, Eat, and Live: Poems of Avvaiyar
    • Body and Earth
    • A Feast for the Tongue
    • Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo
    • Other Writings
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Avvaiyar Poems & Interviews

From and about Give, Eat, and Live: Poems of Avvaiyar.

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“Give, Eat, and Live” from Avvaiyar’s Nalvazhi | ஆண்டாண்டு தோறும் அழுது புரண்டாலும்

October 22, 2021

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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“What We Know: A Handful of Dirt” from Avvaiyar’s Thani Padal | கற்றது கைம்மண்ணளவு

September 30, 2021

Happy #internationaltranslationday!

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

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“Don’t Think to Conquer” from Avvaiyar’s Moothurai | அடக்கம் உடையார் அறிவிலர் என்றெண்ணி

June 28, 2021

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

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“To Behold a Good Person” from Avvaiyar’s Moothurai | நல்லாரைக் காண்பதுவும் நன்றே

May 29, 2021

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

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“Like Water Birds that Leave” from Avvaiyar’s Moothurai | அற்ற குளத்தின் அறுநீர்ப் பறவைபோல்

May 7, 2021

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

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