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.

1124. Beauty through love

காதலர் கண்ணிற் கருங்காக்கை அன்னமாம்காதலி லார்கட்குச் சொல்

kaadhalar kannir karungaakkai annamaamkaadhali laarkadkus sol

In the eyes of those who love, a black crow is a swan; to those without love, it is only a saying.

The last Tamil word, sol, can also mean “tell it”: tell this to those without love.