627. Rising where we fell

கல்லென் றிடறியவள் வீழ்ந்தாள் அதேகல்லில்நில்லென் றெழுந்தாள் நிமிர்ந்து

kallen ridariyaval veezhndaal adhekallilnillen rezhundaal nimirndu

She tripped on a stone and fell; on that same stone, saying ‘Stand!’, she rose upright.

‘Stand!’ names no one: she may be speaking to herself, or to the stone that tripped her. She rises standing on it.

628. Closing when blocked

பார்நீரைத் தேடும் விழுதொன்று கல்லுற்றால்வேர்தானே சுற்றும் சுருண்டு

paarneeraidh thedum vizhudhondru kallutraalverthaane sutrum surundu

An aerial root, reaching down for the water in the earth, comes to stone; of itself the root coils back, curling in on itself.

Trees such as the banyan drop roots from their branches toward the soil; this one comes down on bare rock instead of earth.

629. Mistaking growth for obstruction

மூடியதே பூக்குமோ மொட்டென்பான் மூடறியான்மூடியதே மொட்டின் வழி

moodiyadhe pookkumo mottenpaan moodariyaanmoodiyadhe mottin vazhi

Whoever asks of a bud, ‘Will what is closed ever bloom?’ does not know what being closed is: being closed is the bud’s way.