Feigned Anger

From thy regard all womankind Enjoys an equal grace;
O thou of wandering fickle mind, I shrink from thine embrace

Explanation
You are given to prostitution; all those who are born as womankind enjoy you with their eyes in an ordinary way I will not embrace you.

Tamil Transliteration
Penniyalaar Ellaarum Kannin Podhuunpar
Nannen Paraththanin Maarpu.

One day we silent sulked; he sneezed: The reason well I knew;
He thought that I, to speak well pleased, Would say, 'Long life to you!'

Explanation
When I continued to be sulky he sneezed and thought I would (then) wish him a long life.

Tamil Transliteration
Ooti Irundhemaath Thumminaar Yaamdhammai
Neetuvaazh Kenpaak Karindhu.

I wreathed with flowers one day my brow, The angry tempest lowers;
She cries, 'Pray, for what woman now Do you put on your flowers?'

Explanation
Even if I were adorned with a garland of branch-flowers, she would say I did so to show it to another woman.

Tamil Transliteration
Kottup Pooch Chootinum Kaayum Oruththiyaik
Kaattiya Sootineer Endru.

'I love you more than all beside,' 'T was thus I gently spoke;
'What all, what all?' she instant cried; And all her anger woke

Explanation
When I said I loved her more than any other woman, she said "more than others, yes, more than others," and remained sulky.

Tamil Transliteration
Yaarinum Kaadhalam Endrenaa Ootinaal
Yaarinum Yaarinum Endru.

'While here I live, I leave you not,' I said to calm her fears
She cried, 'There, then, I read your thought'; And straight dissolved in tears

Explanation
When I said I would never part from her in this life her eyes were filled with tears.

Tamil Transliteration
Immaip Pirappil Piriyalam Endrenaak
Kannirai Neerkon Tanal.

'Each day I called to mind your charms,' 'O, then, you had forgot,'
She cried, and then her opened arms, Forthwith embraced me not

Explanation
When I said I had remembered her, she said I had forgotten her and relaxing her embrace, began to feign dislike.

Tamil Transliteration
Ullinen Endrenmar Renmarandheer Endrennaip
Pullaal Pulaththak Kanal.

She hailed me when I sneezed one day; But straight with anger seized,
She cried; 'Who was the woman, pray, Thinking of whom you sneezed?'

Explanation
When I sneezed she blessed me, but at once changed (her mind) and wept, asking, "At the thought of whom did you sneeze?".

Tamil Transliteration
Vazhuththinaal Thumminen Aaka Azhiththazhudhaal
Yaarullith Thummineer Endru.

And so next time I checked my sneeze; She forthwith wept and cried,
(That woman difficult to please), 'Your thoughts from me you hide'

Explanation
When I suppressed my sneezing, she wept saying, "I suppose you (did so) to hide from me your own people's remembrance of you".

Tamil Transliteration
Thummuch Cheruppa Azhudhaal Numarullal
Emmai Maraiththiro Endru.

I then began to soothe and coax, To calm her jealous mind;
'I see', quoth she, 'to other folks How you are wondrous kind

Explanation
'I see', quoth she, 'to other folks How you are wondrous kind' Even when I try to remove her dislike, she is displeased and says, "This is the way you behave.

Tamil Transliteration
Thannai Unarththinum Kaayum Pirarkkumneer
Inneerar Aakudhir Endru.

I silent sat, but thought the more, And gazed on her Then she
Cried out, 'While thus you eye me o'er, Tell me whose form you see'

Explanation
Even when I look on her contemplating (her beauty), she is displeased and says, "With whose thought have you (thus) looked on my person?".

Tamil Transliteration
Ninaiththirundhu Nokkinum Kaayum Anaiththuneer
Yaarulli Nokkineer Endru.