Love Poems

Posted on: December 1, 2021 by: Deshvidesh

The Tirukkuṟaḷ also called the Kural, is a classic Tamil language text consisting of 1,330 short couplets of seven words each.The text is divided into three books with teachings on virtue, wealth and love. Considered one of the greatest works on ethics and morality, it is known for its universality and secular nature. Originally written by Valluvar, also known as Thiruvalluvar around 300 BCE in Tamil language.

The text came to print for the first time in 1812, it has been translated into at least 41 Indian and non-Indian languages, making it one of the most translated non-religious works. As of 2014, the English language alone had about 57 versions available, which is estimated to have crossed 100 by 2020. The Kural has been widely admired by scholars like Ilango Adigal, Kambar, Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer, Constantius Joseph Beschi, Karl Graul, George Uglow Pope, Alexander Piatigorsky, and Yu Hsi which has made The Kural very popular in the ethical, social, political, economical, religious, philosophical, and spiritual spheres.

We are very thankful to Kanan, a farmer, founder of Seer7 Timeless Solutions, a doting father, a self-professed Tamil poet, bilingual blogger, translator who has given us a permission to reprint his poetic translation of The Tirukkuṟaḷ. The following love poems comes from the third book of The Tirukkuṟaḷ called Love.

We published nine poems in the September 2021 wedding issue of Desh-Videsh. It is my pleasure to present to you another twelve poems. I hope you like them.

When we find on the one we love A soft shoulder to sleep on, Can it be sweeter – The divine world of the lotus-eyed god? – Kural 1103	If I shut my eyes He would be veiled; Knowing this I sleep not. Hence the townsfolk Call him uncaring. – Kural 1129	Pupil of my eye, Go away! There ain’t room enough For the girl I love She with a fine brow. – Kural 1123

Which is the moon And which the girl’s face, Unable to discern, The baffled stars have Strayed from their course. – Kural 1116	Feeling it’s no match, Lily would wilt down And stare at the ground If it sees the eyes of her Who wears graceful jewels. – Kural 1114	He never leaves my eyes. When I blink, he remains And yet stays unhurt. He – my love, Is exceptional. – Kural 1126

My beloved resides Within my eyes. I never paint them Lest he vanishes For that brief time. – Kural 1127	The glistening moon That wanes and waxes Is marred by vacant spaces. Is there a single taint On my maiden’s face? – Kural 1117	He lives with delight Always in my heart. But the townsfolk Call him loveless As he dwells apart. – Kural 1130

	She has eyes like a broad flower. Moon, If you can resemble her face You need not appear For everyone to see. – Kural 1119