73. What silence hides

கதறாமல் நின்றாள் குரலிலே இல்லைஉதறும் விரல்களில் தீ

kadharaamal nindraal kuralile illaiudharum viralkalil thee

She stood and did not cry out. There was nothing in her voice; there was fire in her trembling fingers.

74. After danger passes

கடலிறங்கி மீண்டவனும் கால்நனையும் போதில்உடலுணரும் முந்நாள் அலை

kadalirangi meendavanum kaalnanaiyum podhiludalunarum munnaal alai

Even the man who went down into the sea and came back: when his feet get wet, his body feels the old wave.

75. Fear silences us

நரம்பிறுகக் கட்டுவாள் மீட்டொலிகேட் டஞ்சிக்குரல்கொல்லும் கையின் இறுக்கு

narambirukak kattuvaal meettoliked danjikkuralkollum kaiyin irukku

She draws the string taut and plucks it; at the sound she takes fright, and the grip of her hand kills its voice.

The hand that drew the string taut so it would sound is the same hand whose grip, after the fright, deadens it.