434. Attention before sound

கன்றின் வயிற்றழுகை காதிற் புகுமுன்னேநின்றுகன்றை நோக்கும் பசு

kandrin vayitrazhukai kaadhir pukumunnenindrukandrai nokkum pasu

Before the calf’s belly-cry has entered her ear, the cow stands still and looks at the calf.

A ‘belly-cry’ comes from deep in the body: the cry of hunger, or of any deep need.

435. Knowing without naming

பிழிந்ததன் பேரறியா தேனும் பிழிந்தவழியறியும் கையின் மணம்

pizhindadhan perariyaa thenum pizhindavazhiyariyum kaiyin manam

Though the name of what was squeezed is not known, the scent on the hand knows the way of the squeezing.

436. We miss our own decline

ஆடை நெகிழ்ந்ததன்று ஆள்நெகிழ்ந்தான் தன்னுடல்வாடிய நாளறியும் நோய்

aadai nekizhndadhandru aalnekizhndaan thannudalvaadiya naalariyum noy

His garment did not slacken; he did. The day his body wasted, the illness knew it.

His clothes hang loose because he has grown thin; the illness registers the wasting before he notices.