1113. Beauty without training

நெல்குத்தும் பெண்ணின் மிடறு விடும்ஓசையாரும் பயிற்றா இசை

nelkuthum pennin midaru vidumosaiyaarum payitraa isai

The sound that comes from the throat of a woman pounding paddy is music no one ever taught.

Paddy is rice still in its husk; women pounded it with a heavy pestle to free the grain.

1114. Beauty in wear

செதுக்கிய கல்லிற் சிறந்ததுகாண் காலம்உதைத்துதைத் தேய்ந்த படி

sedhukkiya kallir sirandadhukaan kaalamudhaithudhaidh theynda padi

See how the step that time has kicked and kicked is worn finer than chiselled stone.

1115. Knowing a face

மணற்கேணி போலும் முகமே பழகப்பழகத் தெளியும் அழகு

manarkeni polum mukame pazhakappazhakadh theliyum azhaku

As a well dug in sand clears the more it is drawn from, so the beauty of a face clears the more one comes to know it.

In a well dug in sand the first water comes up cloudy; drawn again and again, clearer water seeps in.