451. Rest belongs within work

நரம்பிசையின் மீட்டலிடை ஓய்வே இசையாம்நரம்பறுக்கும் ஓயா இசை

narambisaiyin meettalidai oyve isaiyaamnarambarukkum oyaa isai

The music of a string is the rest between one pluck and the next; music that never rests snaps the string.

In music, a rest is a measured silence. The Tamil word for the string also means nerve.

452. Room to recover

கால்படா மூலை கருமண் புதிதாகும்கால்பட்ட வாயில் நிலம்

kaalpadaa moolai karuman pudhidhaakumkaalpatta vaayil nilam

In the corner where no foot falls, the dark soil turns fresh. And the doorway: trodden ground.

Earth left untrodden loosens and darkens again. A doorway is where feet fall most.

453. A change in ourselves

கூடை யிறக்கினாள் கூனே நிமிர்ந்ததேஆடியில் வேறோர் முகம்

koodai yirakkinaal koone nimirndadheaadiyil veror mukam

She set the basket down, and the bend in her back straightened of its own accord; the mirror showed another face.

In the Tamil, it is the bend itself that straightens; she does nothing but set the basket down.