A Peerless Classical Language

 

A Peerless Classical Language

From time's dawn, a river flows,
Through golden sands where culture glows.
A tongue so rich, so bold, so bright,
A beacon in the darkest night.

Not mere words, but history’s breath,
Echoing life beyond mere death.
From Sangam songs to stone-carved lore,
Tamil resounds forevermore.

A mother’s lull, a poet’s dream,
A scholar’s lamp, a warrior’s scream.
Carved in scripts that time defies,
A living flame that never dies.

Through Bharathi’s fire, Valluvan’s grace,
It lifts the soul to boundless space.
A bridge where wisdom gently flows,
Where justice, love, and valor grows.

A tongue of saints and seers of old,
Where truth is inked in words of gold.
A shield against the shifting tide,
Tamil stands, an ancient guide.

Empires rise, and empires fall,
Yet Tamil stands, outlasting all.
A melody in the cosmic chime,
Unshaken by the weight of time.

So here we stand, with heads held high,
Beneath the vast and endless sky.
A song of pride, of love, of lore—
Tamil lives on, forevermore!

-      rs

A Love Poem

 

Eternal Echoes

I remember a time when the sky was an open diary—
each cloud a gentle verse,
each beam of sunlight a whispered promise
that love, like a river, would find its course.
In the quiet morning hours, when dew clings to petals
and the world still dreams in soft pastels,
I found you—a luminous spirit
shimmering in the silence between heartbeats.

Your laughter, a cascade of unbound notes,
floats across the distance of my days,
it stirs the dust of old sorrows
and sows seeds of hope in barren places.
I wander through fields of memory
where your voice lingers like a tender refrain,
each syllable a delicate brushstroke
painting our shared moments in vivid, unrestrained color.

In the endless expanse of night,
when stars unfurl like ancient scrolls across the velvet dark,
I feel your presence in the gentle hum of the universe—
a quiet murmur that bridges the gap
between longing and fulfillment,
between dreams and the sweet reality of your touch.
There, in the infinite tapestry of cosmic wonder,
our souls intertwine like vines around a steadfast oak,
rooted in the deep earth of our existence.

I write these words as if they are petals scattered
across the winding paths of time,
each line a tribute to the undying flame
that burns in the hidden alcoves of my heart.
Your eyes, twin orbs of timeless wonder,
hold the secrets of a thousand whispered stories,
each glance a sonnet, each smile a lullaby
that soothes the restless nights of my spirit.

Together we traverse landscapes of shifting seasons,
from the tender blush of spring’s first bloom
to the quiet introspection of winter’s snow—
every moment a fragment of an eternal mosaic,
where love is not confined by the ticking of clocks,
nor by the fading echoes of yesterday.
In the golden haze of autumn, I see your silhouette
against the burning horizon, a beacon guiding me home,
reminding me that even as leaves fall
and the earth prepares to rest,
our love remains a vibrant, ever-renewing spring.

In the soft murmurs of the wind, I hear your name,
a hymn composed in the delicate language of nature—
the rustling of the leaves, the distant call of a nightingale,
each sound a testament to the enduring cadence
of our intertwined destinies.
I have learned that love is not merely an emotion,
but a living, breathing force that transcends the confines
of the ordinary; it is a voyage, an uncharted odyssey,
where every heartbeat is a compass, every sigh a guiding star.

There are moments when the world seems too vast,
when the weight of time presses upon us
like an ancient stone etched with the memories
of lives once lived and dreams yet to be born.
And in those moments, I close my eyes and find solace
in the infinite expanse of our shared love,
a sanctuary where nothing is lost, nothing is forgotten—
only the pure, unadulterated essence of our being,
flowing together in a ceaseless, unyielding tide.

In the mosaic of our existence, every fragment matters—
the laughter that echoes in quiet corridors,
the silent tears shed in moments of vulnerability,
the fierce, unspoken desire that binds us
in a covenant of hope and unwavering trust.
For in this vast, intricate web of life,
you are the thread that holds my story together,
the eternal muse that inspires every whispered verse,
every breath, every pulse of my wandering heart.

And so, my love, as I pen these eternal echoes
across the vast canvas of time,
know that I am with you—always—
in every rising sun, every whispered breeze,
in every lingering shadow cast by the setting day.
Our love is a free verse, boundless and wild,
an endless epic written not in ink,
but in the very fabric of our souls—
forever unfolding, forever unfolding
in the light of a love that knows no end.

*****

Thaipoosa Thiruvizha: A Tamil Devotional Poem

 

தைப்பூச திருவிழா

தன் சாயல் தீவிர ஒளி,
தாமரை மலர் பூத்த தளிர்!
வானினில் மின்னும் வெயில்,
வாழ்விற்கு பஞ்சம் நீக்கும் விழில்!

அணி வேலவன் அருள் தருவான்,
அகிலம் புகழும் நாளிதுவான்!
அடங்கா பகையை அழிக்கப் பிரமாணம்,
அழகு தெய்வத்தின் சித்திர வேலழகம்!

புயல் வீசும் பகலெல்லாம்,
புகழ் ஓசை பிளந்தோடும்!
வெள்ளம் பொங்கும் அடியவர்க்கு,
வெற்றி நாளாம், விழா நாளாம்!

கங்கை தன்னில் தீர்த்தமழை,
கபிலா தீரத்தில் தீயவரை!
விரதமாய் போற்றும் பக்தர்களை,
வேலன் அருளால் உயரும் நாட்கள்!

வெடிக்கின்ற மழை போன்ற பாட்டு,
வெள்ளி நிற வேலின் ஒளி,
பொன்னாடை அணியும் உருமலர்கள்,
புகைபோக்கும் திமிர்கண்கள்!

நாதம் முழங்கும் நாட்டியங்கள்,
நளின மழைபோல் நீராட்டங்கள்!
குறள் மொழியில் கோதுமை பூசல்,
குறுக்கிடும் கர்த்தரின் விழியாடல்!

கடவுளுக்கென்று தன் கோட்பாடே!
நேர் நடை வழியே வெற்றி,
நெஞ்சில் மினுமினு தீக்கதிர்கள்!

பாடல்கள் பல்லாயிரம் பரவி,
பராசக்தியின் அருள் பரவ,
வெள்ளி தீபம் விழியிற் கரைந்து,
வேலவர் அருள் சூழ வாழ்த்த!

பக்தியால் பரவியுள்ளம்,
பாலின் இனிமைபோல் சமர்!
விழா நாளில் வீசும் பொங்கல்,
வெற்றி நிலாவோடு எழுச்சி தரும்!

தீமை யாவும் சுட்டெரிக்கும்,
தெய்வ கோபம் செவ்வேளை ஆக,
திருவேலவன் அருள் பொழியும்,
திறமை, பக்தி, ஒளி, நலமும்!

குன்றெடுக்கும் கருணைநிலம்,
கோடிக்கணக்கில் பக்தி அலை!
மனங்கரைந்து உழலும் மக்கள்,
மணிவேலின் துணையால் வாழ்வார்கள்!

வானம் முழங்கும் வெள்ளி இசை,
வாய்மை வழியில் போற்றிடுவோம்!
அருள் தரும் முருகனது பெருமை,
அனைவரும் எண்ணி உய்வடைவோம்!

காவடி தாங்கும் கனலுருப்பான்,
கண்களை மூடி நெஞ்சாரப்பான்!
அருள்மொழி வேதம் ஆக,
அவனருள் மாரி பெய்யட்டும்!

பைங்கொடி போல பக்தி வளர,
பட்டணமெல்லாம் முரசு முழங்க,
பந்திகள் வண்ணமாய் ஆட,
பரமருள் நாதன் சிரிக்கட்டும்!

கொடியது தீர்க்கும் கருணை நாதன்,
கொடியர் உள்ளம் கரைந்து போக!
கொடிய சிந்தை ஒழிக்க வருவான்,
கொடியினில் வென்று குலம் போற்ற!

ஆழ்ந்து போற்றிடுவோம்,
அருள் வேலவனை!
தோழ்ந்து வாழ்த்திடுவோம்,
சினம் தீர்ப்பவனை!

தைப்பூசம் திருநாளாம்!
தெய்வ தீபம் ஏற்றுவோம்!
உயிர்நாளை பொலிவிக்க,
ஓம் சரவணபவா எனச் சொல்லுவோம்!

வானம் கொண்டாடும் வெள்ளித் திருவிழா,
வயல் வெளி வேளியில் மஞ்சள் பசுமை!
வெள்ளி ஒளி விரிந்து சிதறும்,
வேலவன் பாதம் பூஜைக்கே!

காவடி தூக்கும் கரம் எழுந்திட,
கண்கள் உருகி கதிரொளி சேர்ந்திட,
பாசம் கொலையும் பகையை வென்றிட,
பதைத்த மனம் ஓய, வேலவன் வந்திட!

பாலே பசுமை முத்தே சிவப்பு,
பார்வை போதும் பரவசம் தர!
காதல் கடலில் கரைந்துவிட,
கங்கையினிலே கரை சேருவார்!

வெண்மணல் தாங்கும் கரையின் அருகே,
விண்மீன் நடிக்கும் அருளின் களமே!
வெள்ளி ஒளியில் வண்ணமா காண,
வேலவன் கோயில் விழா கொண்டாடும்!

குன்றே எனும் தெய்வம் எழுந்திட,
குரலால் முழங்கும் முருகன் திருப்புகழ்!
மனதுள் எரியும் தீயைக் கொன்று,
மறுவிழி தருவான் அருள் கொடையாக!

சூரனை வென்ற செல்வம் பெருமை,
சோலை மலர்ந்து சுகம் தருவான்!
தொல்லை தீர்த்திடும் வெற்றி வேலவன்,
தொண்டரை வாழ்விக்கும் கோவில் சுவர்கள்!

மழை போன்ற அருள் தருவான்,
மனதுள் இருளை ஒழிக்க வருவான்!
மின்னலை போல அவன் பார்வை,
மேகங்களை பிளந்திடும் மெய்ந்நிலை!

காதல் புகழும் கந்தவேளே,
கருணை மணக்கும் கலைவேளே!
முருகா, நின்று அருள் செய்யும்,
முப்போது காலமும் நினைவு!

திருமுருகனே, உன்னை போற்றுவோம்!

தைப்பூசத் திருநாளில்,
தினம் தினம் உன் திருவடி தேடி,
தெளிவாக வாழ்வோம், ஓம் சரவணபவா!

-         சிவக்குமார் ராமன்

AMMA

 

   AMMA

Oh! Amma, the beacon of stability,
Your love shines with endless reliability.
In your arms, I find true tranquility,
A haven of warmth and boundless agility.
Your wisdom holds the glow of credibility,
Guiding my steps with gentle feasibility.
Through storms of life, your strength’s durability,
Turns chaos to calm with serene sensibility.
With a heart that brims with hospitality,
You nurture dreams with divine versatility.
Even in times of pain and fragility,
You teach the art of enduring vitality.
Oh! Amma, your love’s eternal capability,
A light of hope, a symbol of nobility.
Oh! Amma, your care defies all volatility,
Steady and pure, an endless possibility.
Your touch dissolves the weight of hostility,
Turning harsh worlds into realms of fertility.
Through your eyes, I see life’s morality,
A path adorned with grace and legality.
In your voice, there’s soothing accountability,
A melody that anchors my sensibility.
Your embrace, a fortress of impenetrability,
Sheltering me with unmatched credibility.
Oh! Amma, you are life’s purest reality,
A timeless bond of unspoken spirituality.

     ~!@#$%^&*()

Manjuvirattu: A Symphony of Sivaganga

 

Manjuvirattu: A Symphony of Sivaganga

In Sivaganga’s fields, where heritage thrives,
Manjuvirattu breathes, its spirit alive.
Bulls adorned with pride, a sight to behold,
Legends of valor, timeless and bold.
Villages gather, their hearts beat as one,
Awaiting the dance under the golden sun.

The thud of hooves shakes the sacred land,
The bulls charge forth, majestic and grand.
Youth with courage, their grip like steel,
Chasing the dream, their fate to seal.
Victory or fall, their spirits don’t sway,
Each man a hero on this grand day.

Sugarcanes sway in the festival’s cheer,
Pongal pots bubble, spreading warmth near.
Drums beat loud, echoing the past,
Binding the present with traditions steadfast.
Elders recount tales of times bygone,
A culture preserved, forever shone.

The bulls, symbols of strength and might,
Charge through the arena, a glorious sight.
Their horns glisten in the morning’s hue,
Challenging the brave, steady and true.
In this sacred bond of man and beast,
Honor and pride find their feast.

The air carries laughter, the crowd’s delight,
Under Sivaganga’s skies so bright.
Children cheer as legends unfold,
Stories to cherish, more precious than gold.
For Manjuvirattu is more than a game,
It’s the essence of life, a cherished flame.

As dusk settles over the vibrant plains,
The spirit of unity remains and sustains.
Bonds are forged in the heat of the chase,
An eternal connection to this sacred space.
Manjuvirattu, a festival divine,
Forever Sivaganga’s heart shall enshrine.

        *****

Jallikattu

 

               Jallikattu

In Tamil soil, where culture thrives,
Jallikattu’s heartbeat strongly survives.
From ancient seals to Sangam's lore,
The bull’s charge echoes from times of yore.
Man and beast, a duel divine,
Bound by valor, traditions intertwine,
A dance of courage on heritage’s shrine.

The Pulikulam bull, fierce and free,
Challenges men in the field’s spree.
Grasp the hump, embrace the test,
With strength and wit, prove you're the best.
A token of coins glimmers on horns,
Amid the crowd where bravery is born,
A spectacle woven in Tamil morns.

Pongal's joy lights the village square,
Mattu Pongal sees bulls prepare.
Decorated gates, the vadi vasal awaits,
For champions bold to face their fates.
The roar of crowds, the dust-filled air,
Man and bull, a bond laid bare,
In this contest rare, no room for despair.

Yet critics rise, with voices loud,
Condemning this sport, drawing a crowd.
Animal welfare, their earnest plea,
Citing cruelty where pride should be.
But Tamils defend, their heritage clear,
Jallikattu’s essence they hold dear,
A legacy preserved through every year.

Protests surged in Marina’s sands,
Unity forged by countless hands.
Ordinances passed, the ban repealed,
The spirit of Jallikattu, never concealed.
For bulls are cherished, not merely tamed,
Their strength revered, their role acclaimed,
In Tamil hearts, their glory proclaimed.

Legends say in Mullai’s green,
The Ayar tribes this sport had seen.
From Indus seals to Madurai’s art,
Jallikattu holds a timeless part.
A symbol of life, of toil, of grit,
Where man and beast together fit,
In harmony, a culture lit.

Oh Jallikattu, eternal flame,
Bearer of Tamil pride and name.
Through trials, bans, and battles fought,
Your essence lives in every thought.
For courage and love you signify,
A legacy no force can deny,
A Tamil anthem under the sky.

~~~~~

C. N. Annadurai

 

C. N. Annadurai

In the land of Tamil Nadu, where legends were born,

A leader emerged, in history to adorn,
C. N. Annadurai, or "Anna" with love,
A visionary, a poet, sent from above.
 
Born in Kancheepuram, in humble abode,
To Natarajan, a weaver, and Bangaru Ammal's fold,
Raised by sister Rajamani with care,
Young Annadurai's journey, a story to share.
 
At Pachaiyappa's High School, he started his quest,
But destiny had other plans, it would suggest,
He dropped out to toil, as a clerk he'd strive,
In the mundane routine of an ordinary life.
 
But knowledge beckoned, he couldn't stay still,
Back to school, he'd go, with a determined will,
Graduated from college, an MA he'd acquire,
In economics and politics, his mind set on fire.
 
As a teacher, he'd start, at Pachaiyappa High,
A journalist next, his wings were set to fly,
With words as his weapon, he'd take a stance,
In the world of journalism, he'd enhance.
 
In '35, the Justice Party he'd embrace,
A sub-editor, with vigor and grace,
Under Periyar's leadership, he'd refine,
His skills as a writer, his path did entwine.
 
Editing 'Viduthalai,' a voice for the voiceless,
In '44, he'd boldly confess,
His own journal, 'Dravida Nadu' unfurled,
A beacon for change in the Dravidian world.
 
In '49, a moment of destiny arrived,
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) he'd contrive,
A new political force, with a vision so bright,
Annadurai's leadership, a guiding light.
 
The anti-Hindi protests, a cause he'd uphold,
Against language imposition, he'd be bold,
In '65, a day of mourning he'd decree,
A fight for language rights, a legacy.
 
A man of principles, of courage and grace,
Protests against leaders, he'd bravely face,
From Nehru to Rajagopalachari's rule,
Annadurai's voice, a powerful tool.
 
Renaming towns, fighting for the oppressed,
His mission for justice, he'd never rest,
For Dravida Nadu, his dream would evolve,
A separate state for Dravidian resolve.
 
But times did change, and the path did sway,
Tamil Nadu's cause, he'd champion each day,
In '67, the chief minister's chair he'd attain,
Anna's rule, a new era to ordain.
 
Legalizing self-respect marriages, a progressive decree,
Retitling Madras to Tamil Nadu, history to be,
World Tamil Conference, a grand celebration,
Under Anna's leadership, a Tamil declaration.
 
A two-language policy, a vision so wise,
Pictures of gods in offices, he'd revise,
Anna's legacy, a chapter so grand,
In the heart of Tamil Nadu, forever to stand.
 
A journey to New York, for cancer's cruel fate,
On 3rd February '69, Anna's light would abate,
But his funeral procession, a record-breaking sight,
Millions in mourning, their candles alight.
 
His remains now rest on Marina's shore,
Anna Memorial, a tribute evermore,
Anna Nagar and Anna University, his name,
In the annals of Tamil Nadu, a lasting flame.
 
Jawaharlal Nehru, in Parliament's hall,
Hailed Anna's speeches, a statesman's call,
A life-size statue unveiled with pride,
In the Parliament House, his legacy to guide.
 
C. N. Annadurai, a leader so true,
In the hearts of his people, he'll forever renew,
His vision lives on, his words still inspire,
A legacy of change, a beacon of fire.

*****