The Visions of the Night

It came and brought to me, that nightly vision rare,
A message from my love,- what feast shall I prepare

Explanation
Where with shall I feast the dream which has brought me my dear one's messenger ?.

Tamil Transliteration
Kaadhalar Thoodhotu Vandha Kanavinukku
Yaadhusey Venkol Virundhu.

If my dark, carp-like eye will close in sleep, as I implore,
The tale of my long-suffering life I'll tell my loved one o'er

Explanation
If my fish-like painted eyes should, at my begging, close in sleep, I could fully relate my sufferings to my lord.

Tamil Transliteration
Kayalunkan Yaanirappath Thunjir Kalandhaarkku
Uyalunmai Saatruven Man.

Him, who in waking hour no kindness shows,
In dreams I see; and so my lifetime goes

Explanation
My life lasts because in my dream I behold him who does not favour me in my waking hours.

Tamil Transliteration
Nanavinaal Nalkaa Thavaraik Kanavinaal
Kaantalin Unten Uyir.

Some pleasure I enjoy when him who loves not me
In waking hours, the vision searches out and makes me see

Explanation
There is pleasure in my dream, because in it I seek and obtain him who does not visit me in my wakefulness.

Tamil Transliteration
Kanavinaan Untaakum Kaamam Nanavinaan
Nalkaarai Naatith Thararku.

As what I then beheld in waking hour was sweet,
So pleasant dreams in hour of sleep my spirit greet

Explanation
I saw him in my waking hours, and then it was pleasant; I see him just now in my dream, and it is (equally) pleasant.

Tamil Transliteration
Nanavinaal Kantadhooum Aange Kanavundhaan
Kanta Pozhudhe Inidhu.

And if there were no waking hour, my love
In dreams would never from my side remove

Explanation
Were there no such thing as wakefulness, my beloved (who visited me) in my dream would not depart from me.

Tamil Transliteration
Nanavena Ondrillai Aayin Kanavinaal
Kaadhalar Neengalar Man.

The cruel one, in waking hour, who all ungracious seems,
Why should he thus torment my soul in nightly dreams

Explanation
The cruel one who would not favour me in my wakefulness, what right has he to torture me in my dreams?.

Tamil Transliteration
Nanavinaal Nalkaak Kotiyaar Kanavanaal
Enemmaip Peezhip Padhu.

And when I sleep he holds my form embraced;
And when I wake to fill my heart makes haste

Explanation
When I am asleep he rests on my shoulders, (but) when I awake he hastens into my soul.

Tamil Transliteration
Thunjungaal Tholmelar Aaki Vizhikkungaal
Nenjaththar Aavar Viraindhu.

In dreams who ne'er their lover's form perceive,
For those in waking hours who show no love will grieve

Explanation
They who have no dear ones to behold in their dreams blame him who visits me not in my waking hours.

Tamil Transliteration
Nanavinaal Nalkaarai Novar Kanavinaal
Kaadhalark Kaanaa Thavar.

They say, that he in waking hours has left me lone;
In dreams they surely see him not,- these people of the town;

Explanation
The women of this place say he has forsaken me in my wakefulness I think they have not seen him visit me in my dreams.

Tamil Transliteration
Nanavinaal Namneeththaar Enpar Kanavinaal
Kaanaarkol Ivvoo Ravar.