717. Returning as someone new

மீண்டவர் மீண்டவர் அல்லர் புதுமண்ணில்மாண்ட விதையின் முளைப்பு

meendavar meendavar allar pudhumannilmaanda vidhaiyin mulaippu

Those who came back are not those who came back; what came back is the sprouting of a seed that died in new soil.

The same people came home, but not the same selves. The Tamil word for the seed, maanda, means both ‘that died’ and ‘that grew great’.

718. Undone on arrival

கடந்தான் கடந்தான் கடலும் மலையும்உடைந்தான் நுழைவாயில் கண்டு

kadandaan kadandaan kadalum malaiyumudaindaan nuzhaivaayil kandu

He crossed the sea, he crossed the mountain, and when he saw the doorway he broke.

719. After all the roads

நாடெலாம் சுற்றியபின் நாள்பலவும் கொண்டபின்வீடறிந்த காலறியும் வீடு

naadelaam sutriyapin naalpalavum kondapinveedarinda kaalariyum veedu

After roaming every land and spending many days, the foot that knew home knows home.

The Tamil veedu means ‘home’ and also ‘release’, the soul’s final freedom; both uses here can be heard either way.