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Tamil Poetry Translations by Michael R. Burch

These are modern English translations of Tamil poems and epigrams written by the Tamil poets Subramanya Bharathi and Gopalakrishna Bharati.



Among all earth’s languages we find none, anywhere, as sweet as Tamil. — Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The Golden Bharath is our glorious homeland:
Hail India, members of a matchless band!
— Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Mankind will achieve enlightenment only when it holds women equal with men. — Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

You shattered my heart,
now all I see are your reflections in the shards.
—Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Kadhari kadhari enadhu ullam sitharip ponadhe
Indru sitharip pona sillil ellaam unadhu bimbame.

I am the footprint erased by the rain. — Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Mazhaiyil kazhuviya manalile, tholaintha kaaladi naanadi.

I keep thinking of you, like the child who sticks his hand in the flame knowing he’ll get burned. — Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Kaiyai sudum endralum theeyai thodum pillai pol, unnaiye meendum ninaikiren.

What can a dewdrop do when the forest is aflame?
— Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Pani thuli thaan enna seyyumo, moongil kaadu theepatri eriya?

Can you sense when a heart is burning to ashes?— Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Ithayam karugum oru vaasam varugiratha?

Let's sing and dance with glee!
Let’s sing a song to Independence, for we
are finally free!
—Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Like the lizard that peeps from a toppled tree, we enter this existence.
—Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Patta marathu mela, etti paarkum onaan pola vaazha vanthom boomi mela

Unlike those who think only about food,
who sit on their verandahs gossiping about meaningless things,
who dwell on their miseries,
who cause trouble for others,
who fret themselves gray,
who become slaves to their desires, then die in vain,
I shall not. I shall not fizzle out, a purposeless nothing.
—Subramanya Bharathi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

India’s Treasures
by Subramanya Bharathi
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The eternal Himalayas tower above us,
as no other mountains ever rose!

The gently nourishing Ganges ebbs and flows…
Do other rivers rival her? Not even close!

The Upanishads? Literature’s first and fairest Rose
will continue to keep other books on their toes!

“Sowkkiyama Kanne” (“How Are You, Dear?”)
by Subramanya Bharathi
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

I can’t catch my breath! I can’t catch my breath!
But think nothing of it. Tell me about yourself.

En kaatril swasam illai. En kaatril swasam illai.
Athu kidakkatum vidu unakkenna aachu.

"Vande Mataram"
by Subramanya Bharathi
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

You are rich with swiftly-flowing streams
and bright with your orchards’ blossoms white.
You are cool with brisk breezes that swirl and delight.
Venerably, we bow before you.

Your skies are moonlit through the nightwatch’s hours
while your groves emit the soft incense of flowers.
Birds chirping in the trees remind us of your blessings.
Venerably, we bow before you.

Countless voices reply when you play your harp.
Countless shoulders stand poised to meet your demands.
When you issue your commands,
swords flash in seventy million hands!

Your enemies tremble as seventy million voices roar
your dreadful name, from shore to shore!

Who says you are timid? They lie!
We stand ready to defend you, or die.

Venerably, we bow before you.

You are our wisdom, you are our law.
You are our heart, our soul, and our breath.
You are our love divine and our awe.
It is your peace in our hearts that conquers death.

Yours is the courage that nerves the arm.
Yours is the beauty, yours is the charm.

Every image we hold sacred and true
In our beautiful temples is tribute to you.

Venerably, we bow before you:
Our Mother, Mother India.

Venerably, we bow before you.

“Vazhi Maraittu” (“My View is Obstructed”) from the opera "Nandanar Charitram"
by Gopalakrishna Bharati
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

A Dalit ("untouchable") approaches a temple he is not allowed to enter…

my view is obstructed, as if by a Mountain:
there’s a Bull lying here, my Lord!

am i cursed? even arriving at this Holy Temple
i remain in my sins!
am i not allowed to touch Your Feet
O Holy Shiva, Lord of the Kailas?

it suffices that i am able to glimpse You in Your Chariot!
i won’t enter the Great Temple, O Lord,
but is it possible that You might move one Mighty Foot?

to not block my vision, won’t Your Bull move just a little bit?

Michael R. Burch Main Translation Page & Index:

The Best Poetry Translations of Michael R. Burch
The Best Poetry Translations of Michael R. Burch (sans links)

Translation Pages by Language:

Modern English Translations of Anglo-Saxon Poems by Michael R. Burch
Modern English Translations of Middle English and Medieval Poems
English Translations of Chinese Poets by Michael R. Burch
English Translations of Female Chinese Poets by Michael R. Burch
English Translations of French Poets by Michael R. Burch
Germane Germans: English Translations by Michael R. Burch
English Translations of German Poets by Michael R. Burch
English Translations of Japanese Poets by Michael R. Burch
English Translations of Japanese Zen Death Poems
English Translations of Ancient Mayan Love Poems
English Translations of Native American Poems, Proverbs and Blessings
English Translations of Roman, Latin and Italian Poets by Michael R. Burch
English Translations of Tamil Poets
English Translations of Urdu Poets by Michael R. Burch
English Translations of Uyghur Poets by Michael R. Burch

Translation Pages by Poet:

Catullus Translations by Michael R. Burch
Ovid Translations by Michael R. Burch
Leonardo da Vinci Translations by Michael R. Burch
Pablo Neruda Translations by Michael R. Burch

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