1327. Unfinished business persists

கணக்குமுடித் தாள்தூங்கும் முற்றாக் கணக்கோகணக்காய் விழிக்கும் இரவு

kanakkumudidh thaalthoongum mutraak kanakkokanakkaai vizhikkum iravu

The woman who has finished her accounts sleeps; the account she left unfinished sits up with the night, keeping exact account.

1328. Work outlasts workers

நெய்தார் இறந்தார் நெடுந்தறியின் பாவிழையைவைத்தார் வழியே நடை

neythaar irandaar nedundariyin paavizhaiyaivaithaar vazhiye nadai

They wove; they died. The warp is set on the tall loom-post, and the path is walked as it was laid.

On a handloom, warp threads are laid by walking back and forth between tall posts, so the weaving has its own walked path.

1329. Counting the undone

முடிக்கா திருந்தவன் நூறுடையான் ஒன்றுமுடித்தவன் ஒன்றுடை யான்

mudikkaa thirundavan noorudaiyaan ondrumudithavan ondrudai yaan

The one who did not finish has a hundred; the one who finished one has one.

The Tamil word for ‘has’ is the word for an owner; beside ‘did not finish’, it also counts what is left undone.