kao no fu kubi no fu kami no fu tsume no fu dou no fu ryoute no fu ryouashi no fu zenshin no fu
An ode to my face, my neck, my hair An ode to my nails and my torso An ode to my hands and my feet This is an ode to all the parts of my body
tsumari monshou jintai monshougaku
In other words, a crest; This is the heraldry of the human body
kagami no naka no sono sugata fukuzatsu bimyou na yuusoku mon'you kuroji hakuhan kyuutei sahou shiroji kokuhan tategata moyou
That figure in the mirror Performs delicate work in a complex situation Charge argent on field sable; courtly ettiquette Charge sable on field argent; shield-shaped design
hito ga kikazaru nankai shouchou BAROKKU gikou no rekishi no geijutsu
People arrayed in impenetrable symbol The historical art of the Baroque
SARAMANDORA DORAGON yamaarashi seitai hiseki shinkou bitoku tojikomerareta bara no kiseki jinjuuka shinju houseki ningen nenrei hanabishi juujika
The Salamander The Dragon and the Urchin The hidden miracle of the Eucharist Creed and virtue Kept in confinement, The miracle of the rose Human-beast-flower Pearl and jewel The age of man Floral diamond and cross
kin gin shi ryoku seki sei koku kin gin shi ryoku seki sei koku
ARUHAMBURA ISUPAHAN KASERUTA RINDAAHOFU SHUVARU BOMARUTSO FUROORA MADIASU VERUSAIYU OBERISUKU ZAAMEKKU IZORA BERRA ANFITEATORO ORUFEUSUGUROTTA NOISHUVASHUTAIN SANTA MARIA DERA KONCHETSIOONE
Alhambra Ispahan Caserta Linderhof Cheval Bomartzo Flora Mathias Versailles Obelisk Sahmekh Isola Bella Amphiteatro The Grotto of Orpheus Neuschwanstein Santa Maria della Concezione
The cave, the statue, the fountain, the gardens, the palace The bronze mural, the imaginary castle, the villa
tooku ni chikaku ni watashi hyakufushigi chikaku de tooku de watashi hyakufushigi banbutsu watashi hyakufushigi sekai watashi hyakufushigi
Far and near I am all the Mysteries From near and far I am all the Mysteries I am all the Mysteries in Creation I am all the Mysteries in the World
----- Translator's Notes:
Salamander - A flaming lizard, often found as a heraldic supporter, one of two animals that flanks a crest.
Urchin - The heraldic name of the hedgehog, often found as a heraldic supporter, one of two animals that flanks a crest.
Charge - The decorative elements on a heraldic crest.
Field - The background color of a heraldic crest.
Or, Argent, Purpure, Vert, Gules, Azure, Sable - The heraldic names of the colors most commonly used on heraldic crests.
Or........Gold or Yellow. Argent....Silver or white. Purpure...Purple. Vert......Green. Gules.....Red. Azure.....Blue. Sable.....Black.
Ispahan - Also known as "Esfahan," a city known for beautiful architecture. The capital of Esfahan province in Iran. Also, a type of wild Iranian rose.
Caserta - Italian province.
Linderhof - Bavarian palace.
Cheval - Ferdinand Cheval, a surrealist architect who built Le Palais idéal (The Ideal Palace), a monument in Hauterives in the Rhône Valley.
Bomarzo - "The stone monsters of Bomarzo have been described as a uniquely grotesque assemblage of mythical, literary and heraldic sources that have, for generations, baffled and enthralled visitors."
Flora - Roman goddess of flowers.
Mathias - The apostle Matthew.
Versailles - The French city where Louis XIV built a magnificent palace.
Sahmek - The fifteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Isola Bella - Italian island (lit. "Beautiful Island.")