238. Brave elsewhere, afraid here

ஓங்கு திரைநீந்தி யாழ்கடந்தான் தன்மனையுள்தேங்கும் மொழிக்கஞ்சு வான்

ongu thiraineendi yaazhkadandaan thanmanaiyulthengum mozhikkanju vaan

He swam the towering waves and crossed the deep; in his own house he fears a word that hangs in the air.

In Tamil the word lies pooled like still water: a word he has never dared say there, or talk once spoken there that hangs on.

239. Speaking amid silence

பலரிருக்க யாருமோர் சொல்லாத நேரம்ஒருத்திசொல் கல்லாய் விழும்

palarirukka yaarumor sollaadha neramoruthisol kallaai vizhum

Many are gathered, and no one says a word; one woman’s word drops into that silence like a stone.

240. Calling fear wisdom

அஞ்சி யடங்குவான் சொல்லும் அறிவென்னும்பஞ்சணையில் தூங்கும் புலி

anji yadanguvaan sollum arivennumpanjanaiyil thoongum puli

The man who shrinks back in fear talks of wisdom; that wisdom is a soft cotton mattress, and on it a tiger lies asleep.

The tiger is the man himself, or the strength in him, asleep on the comfort of calling his fear wisdom.