Lack Of Intelligence [from 'naaladiyaar' In Tamil] Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

Lack Of Intelligence [from 'naaladiyaar' In Tamil]



251. Lack of intelligence is poverty.
The possession of intelligence is wealth,
earned and heaped. Think of the transgenders
who too wear the jewels, their eyes like to see.

252. Know the reason for the learned folks to lose
their eminence and suffer in misery.
As the goddess of tongue or arts dwells in him,
the goddess of flower or wealth keeps him off.

253. When his father urged him to learn, he spurned it.
When a written palm leaf was stretched towards him
in the midst of some people to read, he felt
ashamed and was moved to feel hurt at heart.

254. If a grown up illiterate keeps silence
in the council of the Wise, he seems a dog.
If he speaks aloud anything,
he is like a dog barking.

255. People with little learning join the group
of the mean and say, what they haven't learned yet.
But the wise men with wide learning tell not things
Which others are not aware of.

256. The learned eloquent speak not much, fearing faults,
while others chat always about something.
The dry leaves of the palm tree make loud sounds
but the quiet, green leaves make no sound at all.

257. To preach virtues to those who are bereft
of goodness, is like spurting mango juice
in a tub where there is gruel for the pig.
Can a crushed wooden peg get into the rock?

258. The coal washed in milk for days, purified
and dried, won't get the colour of white. Those who
don't do penance to be virtuous have no ears
for words of wisdom e'en if scared by a stick.

259. The flies long for the things of dirt, ignoring
The flowers smelling sweet and springing honey.
People with baser instincts find it useless
the true, honeyed words from the mouths of the great.

260. The mind of the low-born picks up not the points
sharp and faultless of the Wise and kicks them out.
But the low-born gathers a group of men
like him for his speech to deliver.

Saturday, November 19, 2016
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Rajendran Muthiah

Rajendran Muthiah

Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India.
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