1121. The heart doesn’t count

கண்ணெதிரே நூறிருக்கக் கண்டதொன்றே கண்ணாகும்எண்ணறியா நெஞ்சின் தொழில்

kannedhire noorirukkak kandadhondre kannaakumennariyaa nenjin thozhil

A hundred stand before the eyes, and the one that is seen becomes the very eye: such is the work of a heart that keeps no count.

‘Becomes the eye’: all one sees, and everything is seen through it. Tamil ‘eye’ also means one’s dearest. ‘Count’: both number and weighing.

1122. Struck by a look

நோக்கினேன் நோக்கினாள் நோக்கறிந்தாள் நெஞ்சமெலாம்தாக்கினாள் தீண்டா தவள்

nokkinen nokkinaal nokkarindaal nenjamelaamthaakkinaal theendaa thaval

I looked; she looked back; she knew my look; she struck my whole heart, and never touched me.

1123. Mistaking response for possession

கயிறிலா ஆழ்கிணற்றுள் கல்லெறிந்தான் ஓசைவரவே உடைமையென் றான்

kayirilaa aazhkinatrul kallerindaan osaivarave udaimaiyen raan

He threw a stone into a deep well that had no rope, and as soon as the sound came back up, he claimed the well as his own.

With no rope, nothing can be drawn up; only the stone’s sound comes back.