Your smile is sometimes so crispy
…like snacks made in Manapparai.
I was looking for your arrival
…by wringing agony in my hands;
After your arrival,
…all my agony has turned to be
So sweet like Palani fruit salad
…Nectar in my palm.
The simple food made of grains
…which I snatched and ate from your
Tiffin box is so sweet like
…sweet made of milk in Srivillipuththur!
You get angry whisk.. whisk..
...I thought you are that ‘brave girl’
After I acquainted with you,
...I came to know that you are
the sweet ground nut cake of Koilpatti!
Your anger is like Sattur made
...Spicy snack which I bite and eat
Crisp.. Crisp..!
I admire your own made lie snacks..
…said by you for your late arrival like
The real specially made ghee snacks
…made in Otacamund!
The eating of briyani made by you
…has made Aminjikkarai into Arcot to me!
If Thirunelveli is your native,
…You are not Halwa of dark shop,
But Halwa of Bright shop!
Your voice smothers
…like butter of UthukkuLi
to our dry speeches
…similar to dried bread!
In the market of
…my similes or comparisons,
Your cheeks resembling mangoes
…has replaced the mangoes of Salem!
As the jack fruit looks with thorns
…on its surface, later offers multiple pulps,
You stare initially, later offer smiles
…For my intentionally said silly jokes!
As and while you come by wearing the saree
…extending freely to the floor
with your hairdo adorned with flowers,
…it is at par with food prepared in Karaikkudi
Supplied onto the full plantain leaf!
Note:
The following places In Tamil Nadu, South India,
Manapparai is famous for for crispy snack named ‘Murukku’
Palani is famous for Panchamirtham, five sweet things are mixed like various fruits including plantain, Dates, jaggery, honey, ghee.
Srivillipuththur is famous for sweet (Paal kOvaa) made of milk and jaggery.
Koilpatti is famous for ground nut cake. (kadalai mittaai)
Sathur is famous for ‘KaarasEvu’
Otacamund is famous for ‘varkey’
Aminjikkarai and Arcot are famous for briyani.
Thirunelveli is famous for ‘Halwa’, a sweet made from wheat.
UthukkuLi is famous for butter.
Salem is famous for Mangoes.
Karaikkudi is famous for food preparation for feasts.
All are expressed as similes for convincing the lover!
Sir, A very nice translation which I wanted to do when I read the Tamil version of Krishna Dev..Particularly the lines.. As the jack fruit looks with thorns …on its surface, later offers multiple pulps, You stare initially, later offer smiles …For my intentionally said silly jokes! goes into the heart like the jackfruit.. Also, the footnotes explaining the places and the fames of Tamilnadu, India is a service, indeed.. Excellent, Sir!
Dear friend Thiru.Karunanithi, Thanks for your kind reading, comment and appreciation. Yours sincerely, V.K.Kanniappan
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
இப்படியொரு மொழிபெயர்ப்புச் செய்து பெருமைப் படுத்தி விட்டீர்கள் அய்யா எனது கவிதையை....! மொழிபெயர்க்கச் சற்றுச் சிரமமான இந்தக் கவிதையின் பகுதிகளில் கூட மிகவும் லாவகமாகப் புகுந்து வருகிறது தங்கள் ஆங்கிலப் பேனா......! தமிழில் மட்டும் அல்ல ஆங்கிலத்திலும் நீங்கள தன்னிகரற்றவர் என்பதை உணர்த்தி விட்டீர்கள் அய்யா...... தங்களுக்கு நன்றியுடையவன் ஆகிறேன் இப்போதும்
கருத்திற்கு நன்றி, தேவராஜன்.