Anthaathi (Translation)

Peranbae kaadhal
Love, the immense and powerful tenderness.
Ulnookki adungindra aadal, saatha
A dance that folds inward, drawn deeply by the soul’s gaze, endlessly.
Aaratha aaval
A longing that never ends.
Yethetho saayal yetru thiriyum kaadhal
Love that wanders in different guises, changing masks as it moves.
Prathyega thedal
A unique and personal search.

Theeyil theeratha kaatril
In a wind that doesn’t cool even in fire.
Pul poondil puzhuvil ulathil ilathil
In grass, in thorns, in worms, in what exists and what doesn’t.
Thaanae ellamum aagi
It becomes everything by itself.
Naam kaanum aruvamae
The invisible form we still perceive.

Ithyaathi kaadhal
Such is love — endless and layered.
Illatha pothum thedum thedal, satha
A tireless quest even when it’s not there.
Maarathu kadhal
Love that refuses to change.
Manraadum pothum maatru karuthil mothum
It stays even in confusion, and flows through every shifting thought.
Maalatha oodal
A sulk that never softens.

Naam intha theeyil
We are the spark that builds homes in this fire.
Veedu kattum theekuchi
The firestick that constructs shelter.
Naam intha kaatril
We are the dust that swings in this breeze.
Oonjal kattum thoosi
The speck that sways like a swing.
Naam intha neeril
We are the water-drop that carries life.
Vazhkai oottum neer poochi
The tiny insect ferrying life in its drop.
Naam intha kaambil
We are the twig where love blooms.
Kaamathin rusi
The taste of desire resting there.

Kaadhal kanneril silanthi
Love is a spider in tears.
Kaadhal vinmeenin meganthi
Love is the scent left on a falling star.
Kaadhal meiyana vathanthi
Love is a truth disguised as rumour.
Kaalam thorum thodarum diary
A diary that continues through every age.

Kaadhal deiveega ethiri
Love, a divine enemy.
Kaadhal saathaanin visiri
Love, the demon’s devotee.
Kaadhal aanmavin pulari
Love, the soul’s own dawn.
Vazhnthu petra degree
The degree earned by living it.

Ore, vidaikullae
In one seed lies it all.
Vinaavellam, pathunguthae, aa
All the questions curl up inside, hidden.
Naam karainthathae
We’re what melted.
Marainthathae, mudinthathae, aa
What vanished, what was finished.

Konjum pooranamae vaa
Come, you little completeness.
Nee konjum ezhilisaiyae
You, little melody of beauty.
Panja varna bootham
A five-colour element.
Nenjam niraiyuthae
You fill the heart entirely.
Kaanbathellaam, kaadhaladi
Everything visible is love, dear.

Kaadhalae-kaadhalae, thani perun thunaiyae
O love, love — my one great companion.
Kooda vaa, kooda vaa, pothum-pothum
Come along, come close — it’s enough, just enough.
Kaadhalae-kaadhalae, vazhvin neelam
O love, love — the length and colour of life.
Pogalam poga vaa nee
Let’s go — come, let’s go.

Aa, thigampari
Ah, you wild swirl.
Valampuri, suyambu nee-nee
You, the sacred spiral, the self-born one.
Aa, prahaaram nee
You are the temple corridor.
Prabaavam nee, pravaaham nee-nee
You are radiance, you are the flow.
Aa-aa, srungaaram nee
You are sensuality.
Aangaaram nee, oangaaram nee-nee
You are fire, you are vibration.
Nee, anthaathi nee
You are the endless poetic chain.
Anthaathi nee, anthaathi nee-nee
You — beginning and end, you.

Hmm, theda vendam
Hmm, no need to search.
Mun arivi pindri varum
It will come without foreknowledge.
Athan varugaiyai
Its arrival
Idhayam urakka sollum
Will be gently spoken by the heart.

Kaadhal
Love —
Kaadhal oru naal ungalaiyum
Love will one day reach you too.
Vanthu adaiyum
It will come find you.
Athai alli anaithu kollungal
Hold it close and embrace it.
Anbaaga paarthu kollungal
See it with kindness.

Kaadhal thangum, kaadhal thayangum
Love stays, love stumbles.
Kaadhal sirikkum, kaadhal inikkum
Love smiles, love sweetens.
Kaadhal kavithaigal varaiyum
Love becomes poems.
Kaadhal kalangum, kaadhal kuzhambum
Love gets shaken, love gets messy.
Kaadhal oralavukku puriyum
Love is only partly understood.
Kaadhal vilagum, kaadhal piriyum
Love will drift, love will depart.

Kadhavugalai moodaamal vazhi anupungal
Don’t shut your doors — let it pass through.
Kaathirungal
Wait for it.
Oru velai kaadhal thirumbinaal
If love ever returns,
Thoorathil thayangi nindraal
And hesitates in the distance,
Arugil selungal, anbudan pesungal
Go near — speak to it with love.

Pothum
That’s enough.
Kaadhaal ungal vasam
Love is in your hands.
Ullam kaadhal vasam
The heart belongs to love.
Matrangal vinaa
No more questions.
Matrangalae vidai
The answers are all love.
Kaadhal
Just love.