The Purunanuru is an anthology of ancient Tamil poems. Written as a Sangam compilation in the first century, these four hundred poems try to make beauty of out of the everyday behaviors and norms of ancient southern India. I found the poems very particular to the lived experiences of its time. It was certainly educational to read these poems, but I don’t know if they have a timeless appeal, or have that certain something to recommend to people from outside of the writing’s particular context…