Kathu veliyidai , Kannamma

              By
 Mahakavi Bharathiar 

      Translated by 
   P.R.Ramachander 

 

Ragam Desh

Talam Aadhi

 

1.Kattru veliyidai Kannamma –Ninthan,

Kadhalai yenni kalikkindren-Amu

THattinai otha  idazhgalum-Nila

Voori thathumbum vizhigalum –Pathu

Mathu ponnotha  nin meniyum –indha,

Vaiyathil  yanulla mattilum-Yenai,

Vethu ninaivindri  thethiye –Ingor,

Vinnavanaaga  puriyume-Indha

 

2.Nee yenathu uyir kannamma-Yendha,

Neramum ninthanai pothuven-thuyar,

Poyina, poyina thunbangal ninaip-,

Ponnenna konda pozhuthile-Uyir,

THeeyinile valar jothiye, yenthan,

Chinthanaye  yenthan chithame-Indha

 

English translation

1.In the open air space of this world, my Kannamma*, 
I enter in to rapture thinking of your love, 
Your cheeks which are like the spring of nectar, 
Your moon light drenched eyes that blink, 
Your body which is of the purest gold, 
Would make me think of nothing else, 
As long as I live in this world, 
And make me a heavenly being, 
Even as I live in this world here, Kannamma. 

2,You are my entire soul, my Kannamma, 
And I would praise you always and at all times, 
For sorrow vanished, vanished the pain filled life, 
As soon as I thought that you were gold, 
And when I repeated your name darling, 
My mouth was drenched with nectar, 
Oh flame which grows in the fire of my life, 
On my mind, Oh my thought, 
In this open air space of the world, Kannamma 
I enter in to rapture thinking of your love. 

*sweet heart/darling mine. It would read better if “darling “replaces “Kannamma. But the nostalgia it evokes in a reader from Tamil Nadu would be lost. Most people believe that the poet is singing to Lord Krishna (Kannan) and imagine him as his sweet heart.