1287. Missing the weight

சுமையிருந்த நாளின் சுவடறியும் தோளேசுமையற்ற நாளின் சுமை

sumaiyirunda naalin suvadariyum tholesumaiyatra naalin sumai

The shoulder knows the trace of the days it carried a burden; on the day with no burden, that shoulder is the burden.

1288. What remains changed

அழுத்தியகை போயினும் அம்மியிலோர் பள்ளம்அழுத்திய கைபோல் நிலை

azhuthiyakai poyinum ammiyilor pallamazhuthiya kaipol nilai

The hand that pressed has gone; the hollow in the grinding stone stays, as though the hand still pressed.

Spices are ground by hand on a flat stone; years of pressing wear a hollow into it.

1289. Loss measures presence

ஒளியிழந்தால் தோன்றும் இருள்முன் னிருந்தவெளிச்சத் தளவே இருள்

oliyizhandaal thondrum irulmun nirundavelischadh thalave irul

When light is lost, darkness appears, and the darkness is exactly as great as the light that was there before.