Palindromic Poems (Kaibunka): Edo

Torii Kiyomitsu Japanese

Not on view

In the center panel of this triptych, the actor Segawa Kikunojō stands with a pipe in his hand and a smoking set and a surimono print at his feet. Through the window, wisteria and pine are visible in the background. The palindrome goes:

Nagaki yo no
too no nefuri no
mina me same
nami nori fune no
oto no yo kikana

Through the long night
on the distant shore
those sleeping
are all awakened, perhaps
by the sound of the boat
carried across the waves.

Palindromic Poems (Kaibunka): Edo, Torii Kiyomitsu (Japanese, 1735–1785), One sheet of a triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan

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