The Wasting of the Eyes through Wistful Longing
The work explores the profound emotional turmoil experienced by a lover whose eyes have betrayed her by longing for a beloved. The narrative begins with the speaker's lament over her eyes, which have become the source of her anguish. They are depicted as both the instigators of her suffering and the victims of their own desires. The speaker reflects on the irony of her eyes, which once eagerly gazed upon her beloved, now weep in regret and sorrow. The eyes are personified, expressing a sense of guilt and self-reproach for their reckless longing. The speaker's grief is described as vast and consuming, likening it to an ocean, emphasizing the depth of her emotional pain. The eyes, once a source of joy, have turned into instruments of torment, unable to find solace in either the presence or absence of the beloved. The speaker's frustration is palpable as she curses her eyes for their insatiable desire, wishing for them to wither away from the pain they have caused. This longing is contrasted with the reality of unrequited love, highlighting the disparity between the lover's feelings and the beloved's indifference. The eyes become a symbol of unfulfilled desire, revealing the inner turmoil that accompanies love. The narrative delves into themes of longing, regret, and the complexities of love, illustrating how physical attributes can evoke deep emotional responses. The speaker's eyes serve as a mirror to her soul, exposing her vulnerabilities and the universal experience of love's pain. The work ultimately captures the essence of longing and the bittersweet nature of love, where beauty and suffering coexist.
By Thiruvalluvar · First published 2004 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Philosophical Literature · 273 words
First lines
She
Why do my Eyes complain to me today? This inconsolable grief hath come even upon me only through their showing to me my beloved.
How is it that the Eyes that looked rashly on the beloved that day grieve today, instead of bearing patiently the consequences of their own folly?
They looked on him straightway of their own free will that day, and today they weep of themselves: how they make themselves ridiculous!
What this Textopian page supports
The Wasting of the Eyes through Wistful Longing is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thiruvalluvar, dated 2004 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thiruvalluvar
- Date: 2004 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Philosophical Literature, Tragedy, Confessional Poetry
- Length: 273 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Wasting of the Eyes through Wistful Longing by Thiruvalluvar
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Similar titles
- The Wasting Away Of Her Lovely Form by Thiruvalluvar
- The Pangs Of Separation by Thiruvalluvar
- Procemion by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Waiting by Emily Dickinson
- The Vanity Of All Things by Thiruvalluvar
- Offspring by Thiruvalluvar
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses deep emotional experiences and personal reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of longing, unrequited love, and emotional turmoil align with the principles of Romanticism.
- Philosophical Literature — The exploration of the nature of desire and suffering reflects philosophical inquiries into human experience.
- Tragedy — The themes of grief and unfulfilled love evoke tragic elements.
Tags
Philosophical · Poetic · Tamil Literature · Ancient Indian Texts · Spiritual · Meditative · Longing · Wistfulness · Love · Loss · Existentialism · Human Condition