What a poem and poetry can show us. A verse on looking and longing.
From chapter 110, “Knowing Signs.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
author, poet, teacher, and performer
From and about The Kural: Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural.
What a poem and poetry can show us. A verse on looking and longing.
1094
When I look she looks at the ground—when I don’t
She looks smiling softly
யான்நோக்கும் காலை நிலன்நோக்கும் நோக்காக்கால்
தான்நோக்கி மெல்ல நகும்
From chapter 110, “Knowing Signs.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Thiruvalluvar and Antonio Machado on seeing clearly and acting.
668
Enact without waiting or wavering
Each action seen clearly
கலங்காது கண்ட வினைக்கண் துளங்காது
தூக்கங் கடிந்து செயல்
From chapter 67, “Firmness of Action.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Help doesn’t have to be big to be big. A verse on helping in time.
102
Even if small help given in time—far
Far larger than the world
காலத்தி னாற்செய்த நன்றி சிறிதெனினும்
ஞாலத்தின் மாணப் பெரிது
From chapter 11, “Gratitude.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
It was with both gratitude and a heavy heart that wrote about my dear friend Gustavo Esteva in the wonderful online magazine The Porch: A Slow Conversation about Beautiful and Difficult Things.
You can read the essay here:
You can also listen to conversation here:
A verse on the sweetness of children’s voices.
66
Those who don’t hear the babble of their children
Call the flute and the lyre sweet
குழலினிது யாழினி தென்பதம் மக்கள்
மழலைச்சொல் கேளா தவர்
From chapter 7, “Having Children.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston