Classic Poem

There was Pari, the chieftain who fought his combats with kings
while the sticks beat down on the royal drums and spotless
bright conches were sounded, the lord of Parampu where a white fall
of water rolling stones in its flow thunders down a tall mountain,
and there was Ori with his powerful bow who ruled Kolli's shining summit
and Malaiyan, mighty in war, who was as generous as a rain cloud
and who won his victories in battle astride his stallion Kari
and Elini, who reigned astride his towering Stallion Mountain
wearing his chaplet of kuvilam and his curving necklace, with his sharp spear,
and there was Pekan, who ruled over a great mountain with towering summits
watched over by an unassailable god, on its cold slopes caves full of darkness,
and there was Ay, whom Moci, whose words are the truth, has sung,
and there was Nalli, who made his enemies flee from him, whose generosity
was truly noble, who took it upon himself to utterly remove the poverty
of those who came to him with desire—these seven dead,
thinking of you now I have come here swiftly, for in your mind you maintain
the thought that you will relieve the suffering of those who arrive
singing to you in their need so that a feeling of pity is stirred,
and to others as well you give gifts! O lord of Mutiram mountain
where there is unending prosperity, where on the slope of the hill,
bamboo grows that reaches up to touch the sky, and where a monkey
hungry for some jackfruit made even more lovely for him by its surroundings
of tall breadfruit and curapunnai trees, succeeds in taking a fruit
with a thorny shell, well matured, and with his hand he summons
his mate to him, she whose fur is as soft as cotton! You, Kumanan,
whose might shines throughout this world, you with your finely fashioned
chariots and your far-famed generosity,
triumphant over your enemy I pray will be the spear you raise!