[A free translation of a poem in “Purana Nooru”
of ancient Sangam Tamil
literature.]
The precious stones,
gold, pearl and coral
may have had their birth
in different places
but they come together
in an ornament.
so too noble men unite
but the ignoble
go after their own selfish interests.
[A free translation of a poem in “Kuruntogai”
of ancient Sangam Tamil literature.]
It is dawn,
as the cock crows
I feel a chilling sensation
In my heart;
like the cruel sword
the morning mercilessly
tears me off
from the hugging arms
of my lover.
-Translated by R. Sundaresan