Chapter 79அதிகாரம் 79 தொண்டு Service

Not knowing the rod that stands right through it, the wall says, ‘The wall stands.’

The breed of service that knows no compassion is like people fastening a ring, of all things, onto a wounded finger.

Once a river has joined the sea, the name ‘river’ is gone; so goes the name of those who made a way for others’ good.

One Tamil word, aru, means ‘river’, ‘way’ and ‘good’. The verse uses it three times, so the doers share the river’s very name.

The whole town sees the load on the foundation stone; no one sees the stone.

Rice tastes good because salt has dissolved in it; who can know the form of the salt that has dissolved?

The climbing vine stands high, unaware of the pole trembling at its foot.

The Tamil word for vine, kodi, also means flag: a flag too climbs its pole and stands high.

Even the spring thought never to run dry runs dry among those who scoop from it.

A wall already leans with damp: to pray for rain on it, and pour water on it with both hands, is that service?

The town hears the noise of the pot that broke; the pot that carried water goes without a word.

She strings the garland, and she will not wear that garland. ‘The work is done,’ she says.