Suttum Vizhi...

A truly great poem by Subramanya Bharathi.

Tamil:

suttum vizhichchudardhaan kaNNammaa sooriya chandhiraroa
vattak kariyavizhi kaNNammaa vaanak karumai kolloa
pattuk karuneelap pudavai padhiththa nal vayiram
nattanadu nisiyil theriyum natchaththirangaLadi

soalai malaroLiyoa unadhu sundharap punnagaidhaan
neelak kadalalaiyae unadhu nenjin alaigaLadi
koalak kuyiloasai unadhu kuralin inimaiyadi
vaalaik kumariyadi kaNNammaa maruvak kaadhal koNdaen

saaththiram paesugiRaay kaNNamaa saaththiram aedhukkadi
aaththiram kondavarkkae kaNNamaa saaththiram uNdoadi
mooththavar sammadhiyil vadhuvai muRaigaL pinbu seyvoam
kaaththiruppaenoadi idhu paar kannaththu muththam onRu


English:

Is that sparkle of the eyes the dual light?
Is that black sphere the dark night?
Your indigo saree with diamonds sown
Are they the stars that night has shown?
The halo from the wild flower
Is that thy smile my lover?
The waves that the sea does hold
Are they thy bosom's sweet fold?

The cuckoo's sound of soulful note
In thy voice sweet does it float?
A maiden like a budding grove
Kannamma I have fallen in thy love.

Of rules do thee to me speak
Do rules stand for passion's peak?
Later I shall do the laws elders seek.
How shall I wait? Here, a kiss on thy cheek.