kaanal neer

thanimaiyil thulaindha manadhai thediye
unarchigaLai unaraa oomai aaneney.

kangaLum kanneerum
kavalai kodugaLum,
seigaiyum sindhanaiyum
vaai pesaa vaarthaigaLum

maraiyaa mayamaai maruporuL aatrave
urangaa vizhigal sugam thannai thedudhey

Kaanal Neer by Vinod Krishnan

AvaL kuraL

Thayakkam Thaniya
thadhumaari, dhisaimaari...
tholaindhum poga...

kan moodi rasiththen
un kaigaL ennai seenduvadhai.... theenduvadhai...
Idaidhooram veruththen.
Un paarvai ennai thazhuvidavE, UrasidavE

VaarthaigaL Yenadaa?
VilakkangaL Ini Thevaiyaa?

Idhu oru pudhu kadhai
Ini varum naatkaLin munnurai....

Mouna MozhigaL

Kaalai Pozhudhil
KanavugaL Kalaiyum Nodiyil

KaathirundhenaDi
Un IdazhgaL Siripadhai PaarkavE

Iravenum Velaiyil
Vetkam Vesham Aanadhen?
ImaigaLil Eeramaa?
Idaiveli Iniyum Vendumaa?

Amour

Here is a novice's attempt. Mine. An extension to the post below.

Like red earth and pouring rain
our hearts had mingled.
With dark skies of starless nights
as blankets, too thin.
But then, she rose
Like a bride in gold
For whom you left me. Askew; in woe.

குறுந்தொகை

தமிழ் is my mother tongue. My mother, grandmother and my aunts were more than mere patrons of this beautiful language. Some of them wrote poetry and prose; others were serious dramatists. Even today, I can listen to my aunt recite பாரதியார் பாடல்கள் for endless hours with a kind of passion that is infectious... and I am so glad that another aunt took to writing after retirement.

Back in school, I wish I had done better than just memorize these verses for marks and medals.

After an inspiring conversation with 2 friends on Facebook over 2 weeks ago, I finally borrowed this book by A.K.Ramanujan "Poems of Love and War" from the library yesterday. I have not kept it down since. (People who know me well know exactly how rare such occurrences are! )

Reading the originals on 'Project மதுரை' and the translations by Sir Ramanujan - I feel terrible about how little attention I paid to my தமிழ் ஆசிரியர் in school. While I feel very sad about being able to appreciate my mother tongue better with an English translation, I am sure this is better than not appreciating it at all. I'd recommend you give it a shot.

Find below a sampler:

What could my mother be
to yours? What kin is my father
to yours anyway? And how
did you and I meet ever?
But in love
Our hearts have mingled
Like red earth and pouring rain.


Please grab the book if you enjoy poetry - am sure you won't regret it! :)

A Quiet Little Melody

I saw you as I walked outside;

Hanging around, by the curbside

Little things like these make me smile.

You held my hand and let me in;

Drove me home and waited still -

I looked at you to see if you’d smile.

I never wanted to be alone

Just wanted to be with you at home

So please, won’t you come along – tonight?

So when am scared to sleep at night,

You can tell me it’s alright;

So please, can you come along – tonight?

I‘ll hold you close and let you see,

All the lies that I have been;

Promise you that we will always be….

Together now and growing old,

Forever and for always more;

I will hold your hands and sing to you…

This quiet little melody