Old Tamil Poetry

Ainkurunooru – 402

The way he lovingly caressed
and rested on her back,
as she lay cradling her son,
was joyous like spirited music
of the bard’s thrumming lyre, mother!
It was beautiful too.

புதல்வற் கவைஇய தாய் புறம் முயங்கி
நசையினன் வதிந்த கிடக்கை, பாணர்
நரம்பு உளர் முரற்கை போல,
இனிதால்; அம்ம! பண்புமார் உடைத்தே.

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She is at her husband’s place along with her kid. Her mom sends her Sevili (foster mother) to find out whether she is happy. This set of 10 poems (from 401-410) in Ainkuru Nooru (500 short poems) are the Sevili telling the girl’s mother how blissful she is at her husband’s place. The imagery, the mother laying next to the child cradling him while her husband lies behind her and caresses her back, warms the cockles of one’s heart. It is equated to the joy of the spirited music from the bard’s thrumming lyre. Truly a rich simile.