Lamenting at Evening
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paṉiyarumpip paitalkoṇ mālai tuṉiyarumpit / tuṉpam vaḷara varum.
The evening that once came budding with dew and paling as it came now comes with loathing in bud, and grief growing larger the longer it stays.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“With buds of chilly dew wan evening's shade enclose; / My anguish buds space and all my sorrow grows.”
“The dewy evening hour that once used to come trembling and sighing before me, now advanceth boldly, bringing nought but grief and despair unto my heart.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பனி அரும்பிப் பைதல்கொள் மாலை= காதலர் கூடிய நாளெல்லாம் என்முன் நடுக்கம் எய்திப் பசந்து வந்த மாலை; துனி அரும்பித் துன்பம் வளர வரும்= இந்நாள் எனக்கு இறந்துபாடு வந்துதோன்றி அதற்குளதாம் துன்பம் ஒருகாலைக்கொருகால் மிக வாரா நின்றது, எ-று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
On the days her lover was with her, this evening used to come trembling before her and turning pale, Parimelazhagar explains. Today the same evening arrives differently: aversion buds in it, and the suffering that belongs to that aversion grows greater each time it comes. The hour is the same hour. What has changed is its bearing — it used to approach shyly, and now it approaches boldly.