Arab
mongol
tartar
three strains
go to make
this jade
dragging the jutka
grazing the tarmac
of Madras streets.

Three sangams
and twice three
go to make this
Tamil language
I handle
and speak
and manhandle
and teach
derived
from of old.

The strains are weak,
wearing out;
arab or mongol
or tartar elements
are rarely
to be recognized
in this
tottering
but willing
jade.