Look on this Picture and on that
BY AVVAI
(Rendered from Tamil by P. N. Appuswami)
[This small poem is taken from the anthology, Pura-nanooru. It is, perhaps, two thousand years old. Its author is Avvai, the poetess.
The story of the poem is stated thus: Avvai was once sent by her king, Athiyaman Anchi, as an ambassadress to the court of a neighbouring king, Thondaiman. He did her the honours; and, to impress her with a show of his might, took her round his well-furnished armoury. But when he looked at her for appreciation, he got this song instead. It shows us how sharp-tongued she could be, and how smooth and well-oiled words can lash and sting.]
These are plumed with peacock feathers, and are decked with garlands.
Their thick strong handles are finely wrought;
They are nicely oiled,
And are housed in a well-guarded and spacious mansion.
But those, through goring his enemies, have their edges blunted, tip and side;
And ever lie at the blacksmith’s little smithy–
They, the sharp pointed spears of our king,
Who, when he is affluent, distributes rich food;
And when he is not, shares his food with us;
The liege lord of all the poor and their kinsfolk,
The noble one.