The letter T did provide many options for people and places and things to fit my theme this far in the A-Z journey for April. But I wanted to move away from those for at least one letter and decided to feature my mother-tongue Tamil. While I speak it fluently enough, I read and write the language at a beginner-level, and seek to improve myself each year (hopefully this is the year for it). Tamil is ancient, rich, vibrant, melodious, and beloved to me too. I can apply so many other wondrous adjectives to this amazing language that has withstood the test of time, but will stop here and share with you a poem instead about the language.

In the poem today, I tried to employ the prompts from NaPoWriMo (write a review poem) and APAD (write a touch poem). Also, since this is about Tamil, I attempted to use the kural poetic form. The kural is actually a tough one to use in English, so I used a simplistic version of the form – a series of kural, each of which is exactly 2 lines, the first line consisting of 4 words and the second line consisting of 3 words. And while each one is supposed to be independent, that is not always the case in my poem.

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My Tribute to Tamil: A Review in Verse

A Touch of Tamil: A Poem of Praise
This mother-tongue of mine
Is considered divine!
Whose wondrous ancient roots
and melodies shine!
A tapestry of words,
rich and deep,
Within its script, stories –
and secrets – sleep.

From Cholas and Pandyas,
rhythms so pure,
To the modern Madurai,
Do forever endure.
From Bharathiyar and Thiruvalluvar –
To feet-tapping music,
Tamil has literary treasures
And rich Carnatic!

This mother-tongue of mine,
Here to stay.
A language to enjoy
In every way!

The script of Tamil,
A tactile thrill!
Its texture, a canvas
Of pure skill!
I run my fingers
Over to trace.
Feel its warm embrace
In every phrase!

The curves of each letter,
graceful and fine,
Are so intricately woven,
forming words divine!
Its script paints pictures
Vibrant and bright!
A language that truly
enchants the sight.

Hear its melody in
Words and tones,
Its warmth in voices
of loved ones.
A language that dances
in my ears.
A symphony that wipes
away my fears.

I taste Tamil’s sweetness
In every word.
A palate that’s to
be truly savored.
The words of Tamil
feast the tongue.
Rich and so flavorful,
like spices unsung!

The fragrance of Tamil,
heady and sweet
A scent that lingers,
A “bouqueted” retreat!
One that brings back
Memories of home.
Fragrance that lingers even
When we roam.

Tamil, my mother tongue,
language I treasure,
One that always brings
Me pure pleasure.
Its beauty, its magic,
its poetic soul,
Lend something special that
Makes me whole!
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites

The Day 24 Prompts for my Tribute to Tamil

NaPoWriMo Day 24 prompt: Write a poem in the form of a review. But not a review of a book or a movie of a restaurant. Instead, I challenge you to write a poetic review of something that isn’t normally reviewed. For example, your mother-in-law, the moon, or the year you were ten years old.

The APAD Day 24 prompt at Writer’s Digest asks to write a touch poem. Think of touch as a hand reaching out, though it could also be a foot or just bodies pushed close like in a concert or public transportation. But that’s just when thinking about the senses. It could also be other interpretations of touch, like someone who has the winning touch in a game or has a special touch in dealing with people.

References and Further Reading About the Tamil Language

Learn about the language here:

• Wikipedia page on Tamil
• Britannica page on the Tamil language

Read about the Kural poetic form here

Other related reads:

• I Sing the Glory of this Land: Translated Verses of Bharathiyar by M. Rajaram 
• The Kural: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, Archana Venkatesan, et al.

My T Books

Each of these books today inspired similar feelings in me, so here are my thoughts for both of them.

Beautiful, playful, and joyous poems take young (and older) readers on a wondrous journey of imagination into the natural world within these pages. And I loved the artwork in each one – vibrant, creative, and lending to curiosity and more creativity for its readers. Each one is a beautiful blend of whimsy and science, of the natural world and of play, of the wonders around us and within!

Today I am a River

Tree Whispers

And Now the End of This Post

Linking up to BlogChatterA2Z, Blogging from A-to-Z April Challenge, NaPoWriMo, and the Ultimate Blog Challenge.