ABOUT THE POEM:
The poem VEILS OF SORROW is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. In this poem, a companion of a young girl addressing the girl’s foster mother reveals a hidden truth about a distant mountain where the chieftain, the girl’s lover resides. In the surrounding jungle, the local people dig for tubers and leave pits uncovered. The pits are then filled with golden blossoms from vengai trees, creating a natural beauty. The core message of the poem revolves around the potential peril concealed within nature's beauty. In this poem, a significant truth is unveiled as the speaker addresses the foster mother. Amidst this picturesque scene, an implicit danger arises: these floral-covered pits hold the potential to imperil the chieftain's safe passage. The chieftain's journey across the seemingly charming terrain is fraught with hidden hazards as the alluring flowers camouflage the treacherous pits beneath. The girl’s emotions are tied to this mountain, as whenever it's obscured from view the girl’s eyes become teary like dewdrops. The poem touches on themes of nature's beauty, the connection between humans and their surroundings and the deep emotions that can be stirred by the natural world. The poem subtly underscores the juxtaposition between nature's enchanting facade and the unforeseen risks it might contain along with the girl’s predicament.
VEILS OF SORROW
Dearest mother, I confide in thee,
A truth profound, as vast as sky and sea,
Where distant peaks, where chieftain's throne doth stand,
A mountain grand, a kingdom's heart, so grand.
Within the woods, where wild folks roam with glee,
They dig for tubers, earth's sweet treasury,
Yet careless leave the pits agape, unsealed,
A tale untamed, by verdant growth concealed.
From vengai trees, where golden blossoms grace,
Emerging life, a wondrous, fragrant trace,
These pits become a chalice, nature's whim,
With brimming bounty, to their earthy rim.
The vengai's gold conceals a lurking snare,
Where the chieftain's step might find an unforeseen danger.
The beauty masks a hazard, so discreet,
As he crosses, the chieftain must circumspect.
When once that mount, by veiling clouds is bound,
Concealed from sight, in veils of mist, profound,
Within your daughter's eyes, like flowers fair,
Dewdrops arise, a tender, glistening pour.
(what the friend of the young girl said to the foster mother and the core message of the poem revolves around the potential peril concealed within nature's beauty along with the girl’s predicament )
Note:Vengai is a medium to large, deciduous tree that can grow up to 31 m (102 ft) tall. It is native to India (where it occurs in parts of the Western Ghats in the Karnataka-Kerala region and in the forests of Central India), Nepal, and Sri Lanka.)
