Stevie Smith: Pad, Pad

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Sumiyoshi no meigetsu. Autumn moon over Sumiyoshi. Print shows a person wrapped in a flowing kimono standing beneath a maple tree at Sumiyoshi. Vertical Oban Nishikie panel, trimmed, from the series Tsuki hyaku shi: 100 aspects of the moon: Yoshitoshi Taiso (1839-1892), [188-] (Japanese prints and drawings, Library of Congress)

I always remember your beautiful flowers
And the beautiful kimono you wore
When you sat on the couch
With that tigerish crouch
And told me you loved me no more.

What I cannot remember is how I felt when you were unkind
All I know is, if you were unkind now I should not mind.
Ah me, the power to feel exaggerated, angry and sad
The years have taken from me. Softly I go now, pad pad.

Kyō (Kyoto): print showing a man and a woman playing a game, possibly go, on a kimono with a ruled pattern. From the series: Santo no yūjo: Beauties of the three capitals: Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764), 1734 (H. Irving Olds collection / Japanese prints and drawings, Library of Congress)

Nishike brocade with paulownia arabesque, with red background. showing bright floral, leaf and vine designs for kimonos: between ca. 1750 and 1900 (David Murray collection /Japanese prints and drawings, Library of Congress)

Women's straw zōri sandals: photo by Pike, 19 March 2009

Stevie Smith: Pad, Pad, from Harold's Leap, 1957