Netsuke Depicting 2 Men Drinking Poem by Raj Arumugam

Dancing Man:

My right foot up
and my left hand on my head
Oh this sake
brings me Heavenly fever;
sake purifies my heart
and the gods are pleased
and I dance
like the Shinto spirits of old

Man with the cup:

Oh, drink and be merry
be lifted high in the air
by sake and its spirit;
the Toji has done well
a master brewer he;
and dance you well
in this ecstasy
and while your eyes
are towards the gods
I'll steal a sip or two
that shall build into
more than a cup for me:
O dance in the spirit of sake -
another cup I hold ready
for you, always



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(Netsuke, invented in 17th century Japan, are miniature sculptures, that served as fasteners.)