Naaladiyaar – 30
Born uncalled for, becoming kin at home,
humans then discard their body to loved ones
and simply leave -like a bird flying away
leaving its nest empty.
கேளாதே வந்து, கிளைகளாய் இல் தோன்றி,
வாளாதே போவரால், மாந்தர்கள்-வாளாதே.
சேக்கை மரன் ஒழியச் சேண் நீங்கு புள் போல,
யாக்கை தமர்க்கு ஒழிய நீத்து.
Another poem on impermanence of life. The metaphor, equating lifeless body to an empty nest, is used often in Tamil literature. Human being are born in a family uncalled for. They then grow affectionate and become closely knit. But once their time in this world is over, they just shed this body and let their soul fly away. Like how a roosting bird flies away leaving its best empty.
கேள் – ask
கிளை – kin
இல் – இல்லம் – home
வாளா – indifferently / simply
சேக்கை – nest
புள் – bird
யாக்கை – body
தமர் – kin
Old Tamil Poetry 