469. Home learned by heart

வழிதடு மாறா திருள்நிறை இல்லில்விழியன்று காலறியும் வீடு

vazhidhadu maaraa thirulnirai illilvizhiyandru kaalariyum veedu

Through a house full of darkness the way is walked without a stumble; the eye does not know the home, the foot does.

470. What shelter means

புகலிடமுள் ளார்க்குப் புகலிடமோர் சொல்லேபுகலிட மில்லார்க் குயிர்

pukalidamul laarkkup pukalidamor sollepukalida millaark kuyir

To those who have shelter, shelter is only a word; to those who have no shelter, it is life.

The Tamil word for shelter, pukalidam, means ‘a place to run into’: a refuge to flee to, not only a roof.

471. Age goes unnoticed

ஓரிதழ் வீழ்ந்ததை மாலை உணர்ந்திலள்சோரும் பருவமே மூப்பு

oridhazh veezhndadhai maalai unarndilalsorum paruvame mooppu

She never felt one petal fall from the garland: old age is the wilting time.

In Tamil, the word for garland also means evening.