22. Curiosity needs support

கொடிமுனை தேடும் கொழுகொம்பை நீக்கின்கொடிசுருளும் தன்னுள் மடிந்து

kodimunai thedum kozhukombai neekkinkodisurulum thannul madindu

A creeper’s tip reaches for its stake; take the stake away, and the creeper curls in upon itself.

kozhukombu: the stake or pole set in the ground for a climbing plant to wind around.

23. Questions lead to more

ஒருபூ பிரித்தாள் அதனுள் பிரிக்கவருநூறு காட்டும் வினா

orupoo pirithaal adhanul pirikkavarunooru kaattum vinaa

She opened a single flower, and the question inside it showed a hundred more to open.

piri, ‘separate’, means both picking one flower out from others and pulling a flower open.

24. Adults shut curiosity down

விண்ணை விழியால் விழுங்கிநின்ற பிள்ளைக்கண்மண்ணடைத்தார் மூத்தோர் தமக்கு

vinnai vizhiyaal vizhunginindra pillaikkanmannadaithaar moothor thamakku

A child stood swallowing the sky with its eyes; the elders packed those eyes with earth, to suit themselves.

mannadaithal, to stop up with earth, is also what is done in filling a grave.