Poems: Prince Otsu & Lady Ishikawa [7th Century CE]. Prince Otsu's Poem at the top of the image; Lady Ishikawa's at the bottom.

" In the classical age of Japanese Poetry much of the verse was occasional poetry, and poetic exchanges were a necessary part of courtship. In this exchange the Lady Ishikawa has taken Prince Otsu's poem and cleverly rearranged it. She repeats in the forth line what Prince Otsu has repeated in lines two and five of his poem."

From World Civilization Reader, Poems translated by Jon LaCure