417. Continuity through absence

ஆறுவற்றி னாலும் அதுகுழித்த பள்ளமேநீரறியும் நீர்வரு நாள்

aaruvatri naalum adhukuzhitha pallameneerariyum neervaru naal

The river may run dry, but when water comes again, it knows the very hollow the river dug.

When a river dries, the channel it carved remains in the ground.

418. Room for another

கோலம் அழித்துக் கொடுப்பது வேறுகோலம்கோலம் அறியும் கொடை

kolam azhithuk koduppadhu verukolamkolam ariyum kodai

What wiping away a kolam gives is another kolam: a gift every kolam knows.

A kolam is a rice-flour pattern drawn at the doorstep each day; each new one is drawn where yesterday’s was wiped away.