Palindromic phrases

Main article: Palindrome

This article lists examples of palindromic phrases and longer constructions in a variety of languages. For single-word palindromes see Palindromic words.

Symmetry by characters

English

A dog! A panic in a pagoda!
A man, a plan, a canal - Panama! (Leigh Mercer)
A moral aroma.
- Amoral aroma.
A dog, a plan, a canal, pagoda.
A man, a plan, a cat, a canal: Panama?
A man, a plan, a cat, a ham, a yak, a yam, a hat, a canal: Panama!
- A homo sapien, a scheme, a waterway: Yawretawaemehcsaneipasomoha. (Runyon Reds, on a failed competitor to the Panama Canal)
- A man, a plan, a canoe, pasta, heros, rajahs, a coloratura, maps, snipe, percale, macaroni, a gag, a banana bag, a tan, a tag, a banana bag again, or: a camel, a crepe, pins, spam, a rut, a Rolo, cash, a jar, sore hats, a peon, a canal -- Panama! (attributed to Guy Steele)
- A man, a plan, a caret, a ban, a myriad, a sum, a lac, a liar, a hoop, a pint, a catalpa, a gas, an oil, a bird, a yell, a vat, a caw, a pax, a wag, a tax, a nay, a ram, a cap, a yam, a gay, a tsar, a wall, a car, a luger, a ward, a bin, a woman, a vassal, a wolf, a tuna, a nit, a pall, a fret, a watt, a bay, a daub, a tan, a cab, a datum, a gall, a hat, a fag, a zap, a say, a jaw, a lay, a wet, a gallop, a tug, a trot, a trap, a tram, a torr, a caper, a top, a tonk, a toll, a ball, a fair, a sax, a minim, a tenor, a bass, a passer, a capital, a rut, an amen, a ted, a cabal, a tang, a sun, an ass, a maw, a sag, a jam, a dam, a sub, a salt, an axon, a sail, an ad, a wadi, a radian, a room, a rood, a rip, a tad, a pariah, a revel, a reel, a reed, a pool, a plug, a pin, a peek, a parabola, a dog, a pat, a cud, a nu, a fan, a pal, a rum, a nod, an eta, a lag, an eel, a batik, a mug, a mot, a nap, a maxim, a mood, a leek, a grub, a gob, a gel, a drab, a citadel, a total, a cedar, a tap, a gag, a rat, a manor, a bar, a gal, a cola, a pap, a yaw, a tab, a raj, a gab, a nag, a pagan, a bag, a jar, a bat, a way, a papa, a local, a gar, a baron, a mat, a rag, a gap, a tar, a decal, a tot, a led, a tic, a bard, a leg, a bog, a burg, a keel, a doom, a mix, a map, an atom, a gum, a kit, a baleen, a gala, a ten, a don, a mural, a pan, a faun, a ducat, a pagoda, a lob, a rap, a keep, a nip, a gulp, a loop, a deer, a leer, a lever, a hair, a pad, a tapir, a door, a moor, an aid, a raid, a wad, an alias, an ox, an atlas, a bus, a madam, a jag, a saw, a mass, an anus, a gnat, a lab, a cadet, an em, a natural, a tip, a caress, a pass, a baronet, a minimax, a sari, a fall, a ballot, a knot, a pot, a rep, a carrot, a mart, a part, a tort, a gut, a poll, a gateway, a law, a jay, a sap, a zag, a fat, a hall, a gamut, a dab, a can, a tabu, a day, a batt, a waterfall, a patina, a nut, a flow, a lass, a van, a mow, a nib, a draw, a regular, a call, a war, a stay, a gam, a yap, a cam, a ray, an ax, a tag, a wax, a paw, a cat, a valley, a drib, a lion, a saga, a plat, a catnip, a pooh, a rail, a calamus, a dairyman, a bater, a canal - Panama! (Developed in 1984 by Dan Hoey with computer assistance).
- Zeus saw 'twas Suez!
- Zeus, god, a dog, a plan, a canal, pagoda dog, Suez (J.Ramsey Michaels)
A Toyota's a Toyota.
A Mesa-El Paso Mimosa please, ma. (Steve McAllister)
Able was I, ere I saw Elba. (the famous Napoleon's Lament, source unknown)
Ah Satan sees Natasha
Apollo PA
Are we not drawn onward, we few, drawn onward to new era? (Bill Bryson)
Ate flab in nacho? Oh! Cannibal Feta!
Cain: A maniac!
Campus motto: Bottoms up, Mac!
Cigar? Toss it in a can. It is so tragic.
Damn mad!
Denim axes examined
Dennis and Edna sinned.
Desserts I desire not, so long no lost one rise distressed.
Did I do, O God, did I as I said I'd do? Good, I did.
Do geese see God?
"Do nine men interpret?" "Nine men," I nod
Doc, note, I dissent. A fast never prevents a fatness. I diet on cod. (Peter Hilton)
Dog sex at noon taxes God.
Done by AM? I may be.
"Do nine men interpret?" "Nine men", I nod.
Dr. Awkward
Draw a ward
Draw? No, onward!
Draw, O Caesar, erase a coward.
Draw, o coward!
Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age.
Elba anemone, H.P. stressed, a-sits; 'tis a desserts phenomena able! (another reference to Napoleon's apocryphal quote, though anemone, being poisonous, are not edible)
Eros? Sidney, my end is sore.
Eva, can I stab bats in a cave?
Eva, can I harp on Oprah in a cave?
Evil I did dwell; lewd did I live.
Evil satan oscillate my metallic sonatas live!
Feeble Tom's motel beef.
Gate man sees name, garage man sees name tag.
Go hang a salami. I'm a lasagna hog. (Baby Gramps)
God! A red nugget, a fat egg under a dog.
Gödel—A math’s ash: tamale dog. (Daniel Gerling)
Goldenrod adorned log
Golf? No, sir, prefer prison-flog.
HANNAH: Apple ho, help! PA: Hannah?
Harris' nemesis i' semen, sirrah.
He lived as a devil, eh?
He's mad no poll agreed deer gallop on dams, eh? (Ian Shadford)
I nam’d am devil Eros; a sore-livèd madman, I.
I prefer pi.
I, madam, I made radio! So I dared! Am I mad? Am I? - Spider Robinson
I, man, am regal: a German am I.
If I had a hi-fi
In a regal age ran I.
Kay, a red nude, peeped under a yak.
Koselure Mordni La Palindrome rules - OK
Lager, Sir, is regal.
L. A. cigar -- too tragical (from Expiration Date by Tim Powers)
Lewd did I live, & evil I did dwel. (John Taylor, the Water Poet)
Lisa Bonet ate no basil.
Live Evil (used as an album title by, amongst others, the metal band Black Sabbath and jazz trumpeter Miles Davis)
Lived as a devil.
LOL WTF some emos FTW LOL (jordentimothy)
Lonely Tylenol
Ma is a nun, as I am.
Ma is as selfless as I am.
Madam, I'm Adam. (Eve's response, "Eve"; Eve's answer in Spanish is below.)
- Madam in Eden, I'm Adam.
Mail? I've stole lots. Evil, I am.
Marge lets Norah see Sharon's telegram.
May a moody baby doom a yam?
Mirth sift now, won’t fish trim?
Mirth, sir, a gay asset? No, don’t essay a garish trim.
Mom slaps pal’s mom. (possible newspaper headline)
Mr. Owl ate my metal worm.
My girlfriend has a freaking weird name: Eman Driewgnikaerfasahdneirflrigym. (arguably cheating) (Aaron Belz in McSweeney's)
Must sell at tallest sum.
Name no one man's sensuousness. Name no one man.
Named undenominationally rebel, I rile Beryl? La, no! I tan. I'm, O Ned, nude, man! (Cited by Martin Gardner)
"Naomi", I moan
Ned, go gag Ogden.
Neil A. sees Alien.
Never odd or even.
No "X" in Nixon.
No devil lived on
No evil I did, I live on.
No lava on Avalon, no lava, no Avalon.
No lemons, no melon.
- No melons, no lemon.
No Mel Gibson is a casino's big lemon.
No mists reign at Tangier, St. Simon!
No pinot noir on Orion to nip on.
No sir, away! A papaya war is on.
No, it is opposed, art sees trades opposition. (W. H. Auden, on a discussion of photography vs. painting)
No, son, onanism's a gross orgasm sin: a no-no, son.
Norma is as selfless as I am, Ron. (W. H. Auden)
Not a banana baton.
Not a tub, but a ton.
Not now, wonton!
Now, I won!
- Now, even Eve won.
Now I see bees I won
Nurse, I spy gypsies -- run!
O Geronimo, no minor ego
O, stone, be not so
Oo! Doodoo!
Oh, no! Don Ho!
On a clover, if alive, erupts a vast, pure evil: a fire volcano.
Oozy rat in a sanitary zoo.
Or fret to stir grits otter ‘fro.
Pa's a sap.
Peel's foe (not a set animal) laminates a tone of sleep. (Lyrics from Kew Rhone)
Plan no damn Madonna LP!
Pull up if I pull up.
Race fast, safe car.
Race car.
Rats drown in WordStar.
Rats live on no evil star. (from the novel Swords of Lankhmar by Fritz Leiber)
- Evil rats on no star live.
Rats paraded a rap star.
Red ice; rare cider.
Red loft folder.
Reified war--all its sides reversed--is still a raw deifier. (Daniel Gerling)
Rettebs, I flahd noces, eh? Ttu, but the second half is better. (Stephen Fry)
Reviled did I live, said I, as evil I did deliver.
Revolt if onward snug rajas kayak gnome-land --bologna venom mustard-- Drat! Summon Evan! Go lob DNA lemon 'G,' kayaks ajar, guns drawn, O fit lover. (Andy Adams)
Rise to vote, sir.
Robert Trebor, the stage name of actor Robert Schenkman
Rotary gyrator.
"Rum, rum," I murmur.
Satan, oscillate my metallic sonatas. (Stephen Fry).
Sex at noon taxes.
Sexes
Sides reversed is (a useful phrase that can be slipped into the middle of some palindromic sentences)
Sir, I'm Iris.
Sit on a potato pan, Otis! (source unknown)
Snack cans
Snug & raw was I, ere I saw war & guns.
So many dynamos!
Some men interpret nine memos.
Sore was I ere I saw Eros.
Space caps
Spit on no tips.
Splash at Utah's Alps!
Stanley Yelnats - the name of the main character in Holes by Louis Sachar
Stars are era's rats.
Step on no pets!
Stir grits!
- Stir, gel, bible, gel, bible, grits!
Straw? No, too stupid a fad. I put soot on warts. (Leigh Mercer)
Stressed? No tips? Spit on desserts! (waitress's motto)
Sue, Zane—Lana, Dad, Mom—Jay, Amy, Maya, Joel, Noel—Mom, Darb, Dad, Nora(a bore) Rob, Aaron—Eve, Bob—Mom, Dad—Bob—Mike, Kim—Bob, Dad, Mom—Bob, Eve, Nora (a bore), Rob, Aaron—Dad—Brad—Mom—Leon, Leo, Jay, Amy, May, A.J.—Mom, Dad—Ana, Lena—Zeus!? (an awkward introduction) Gerling
Sums are not set as a test on Erasmus. (W. H. Auden)
Sun at noon, tan us. (Andrew Harding)
Swap God for a janitor, rot in a jar of dog paws.
Tarzan raised a Desi Arnaz rat. (Baby Gramps)
Ten animals I slam in a net.
To old Dallas, we Jews, all add loot. (J. Ramsey Michaels)
Too bad I hid a boot.
Too far, Edna, we wander afoot. (Bill Bryson)
Too fat a foot.
Top Spot
T Eliot, top bard, notes putrid tang emanating, is sad. I'd assign it a name: gnat dirt upset on drab pot toilet!
Tulsa slut.
Viva le Tel Aviv! (Steve McAllister)
Warsaw was raw
Was it a bar or a bat I saw?
- Was it a bat I saw?
- Was it a car or a cat I saw?
- Was it a cat I saw?
- Was it a hat I saw?
- Was it a mat I saw?
- Was it a rat I saw?
- Was it Eliot's toilet I saw? (Bill Bryson)
We fart far aft'r a few.
Wo' Nemo toss a lasso to me now?
Wonder if Sununu's fired now? ^*
Won't lovers revolt now?
Won't cat lovers revolt? Act now!
Yawn! Madonna fan? No damn way!
Yawn a more Roman way.
Yell "Avoid a radio valley!"
Yes, Mary Ramsey.
Yo, Banana Boy!
Yo Bob, mug 'o gumbo boy.
Yreka Bakery: for a time, an actual bakery in Yreka, California, since closed, and replaced with: Yrella Gallery (also a palindrome)
All: Edna, Aron, Bob, Nora, and Ella.
I come from the planet Ten Alpeht Morfe Moci.

Albanian

Je hero Belul ti shit lulebore hej -You are hero Belul you sale snowdrop
Emir un'e takova avokaten. Urime! - Emir I meet advocate. Congratulations!

PALINDROMIC WORDS

arra - the nut
ara - the field
ana - side
kapak - cover
kimik - chemical

Arabic

ربك فكبر :: Say your god is great.

زوج عجوز :: Old Husband.

سر فلا كبا بك الفرس :: May your horse not stumble whilst you ride it.

كمالك تحت كلامك :: Your integrity is beneath your talk.

بلح تعلق بقلعة حلب :: There are dates (a kind of fruit) hanging in the Aleppo Citadel.

دام علا العماد :: May his highness ‘Emad’ last for ever.

حصان ناصح :: Smart horse.

بكر معلق بقلع مركب :: ‘Bakr’ is suspended by a complex structure.

مودته تدوم لكل هول و هل كل مودته تدوم :: His style lasts through all horrors, and does every style last?

Belarusian

А гора падала да парога: "And mountain was falling to threshold."
А мара ліпы — піларама: "And the dream of a linden is power-saw bench"
Мала кашы шакалам: "There is not enough porridge for jackals."
Я — сіла. Маліся!: "I'm the power. Pray!"

Bulgarian

анархия и храна: "anarchy and food"
Аз обичам мач и боза: "I love matches and boza"
Нещо метълът е мощен: "Metal music is mighty"
А дават хубава лилава бухта в ада: "And they give you a nice purple muffin in hell"
Насила закараха свинете ни в Сахара, каза Лисан: "They took our swine to Sahara by force, Lisan said"

Catalan

Català, a l'atac!: "Attack, Catalan!"
Senén té sis nens i set nenes: "Senén has six boys and seven girls"
No sap pas on: "He doesn't know where"
S'és o no s'és: "To be or not to be" (lit. "one is or one is not")
I ara calla, carai!: "And now shut up, shit!"
La ruta natural: "The natural route"
És així, ase!: "It is this way, you silly!"
Tramaran anar a Mart: "They'll plan to go to Mars"

Chinese

我愛媽媽,媽媽愛我: "I love Mom, Mom loves me"
客上天然居,居然天上客.
人過大佛寺,寺佛大過人: "A man walks past the Big Buddha Temple; the temple's Buddha is bigger than a man"
人人為我,我為人人: "Everybody cares about me, I care about everybody" or more simply, "All for one, one for all"
船上女子叫子女上船: "The woman on the boat is calling her children to go onboard" --- copy from 回文遊戲 (Palindrome Games)
上水居民居水上: "Inhabitants in Sheung Shui live on the water"
上海自来水来自海上: "Tap water in Shanghai is from the sea."
马上上马: "Immediately get on a horse."

Croatian

Idi, idi!: "Go, go!"
Perica reže raci rep: "Perica is slicing the duck's tail."
Ana voli Milovana: "Ana loves Milovan."
Udovica baci vodu: "Widow throws water."
Navi uru Ivan: "Ivan wound a clock."
Kuma pere pamuk: "Godmother washes cotton."
Idu ljudi: "People are going."
Ovo je muka kume Jovo: "This is a passion, godfather John"

Czech

Kobyla má malý bok: "A mare has a small hip/flank"
Jelenovi pivo nelej: "To a deer, don't pour beer"
Nevypusť supy ven: "Don't let the buzzards out!"

Danish

En af dem der red med fane: "One of those who rode with a flag"
- Derivate: En af dem der nedrev Sannas verden, red med fane; "One of those who demolished Sanna's world, rode with a flag"
Gid da den dame så de sørens asner øse dåsemad ned ad dig: "If only that lady saw those darned bastards pour canned food over you"
Skal Eva have laks?: "Does Eva want salmon?"
Da den netop retter poten nedad: "Because it happens to be pointing its paw downwards"
Amok-igle redder elg i koma: "Amuck-leech saves moose in coma"
Du låner en ål ud.: "You lend an eel"
Du er Freud: "You are Freud"
Vær dog god, ræv!: "Be good now, fox!"
Se så, René, smid du nu den røde messing-nisse med ørnedun ud, dimsen er Åses.: "Look René, throw that red brass elf with eagle's down small feathers out. The thing is Åse's."
Voksne irere dividerer i en skov: "Grown-up Irish-men are dividing math. in a forest."

(See ^*)

Dutch

Nelli plaatst op 'n parterretrap 'n pot staalpillen "Nelli places a jar of iron pills on a stairway from the ground floor"
Baas, neem een racecar neem een Saab "Boss, use a racecar, use a Saab"
Mooie zeden in Ede zei oom "Nice customs in Ede said uncle"

Esperanto

Ne mateno, bone tamen: "Not morning, it's good however."
Oni ludis. Nu, kiu ne emus sume enui, kunsidulino?: "People played. Well, who wouldn't have a tendency to bore all in all, meeting lady?"
Ora trovo: vortaro!: "Golden find: dictionary!"

Estonian

Aias sadas saia: "It rained white bread in the garden."
Illar Annok ajas alla saja konna ralli : Illar Annok (Estonian name) drove over hundred racing frogs
Aja rajaja raja: "The boundary of the founder of time"
Maa ja jaam: "Land and station"
munaanum: "egg bowl"
No nisu ajaja usin on!: "Well, it is the wheat driver that is hard-working!
No sees on!: "Well, it's inside!"
Reo kanakoer: "Rogue hen-dog"
Sealuu laes: "The pig's bone in the ceiling"
See uus selles suu ees.: "This new one is there, in front of the mouth."
Soolaja ajaloos: "Salter in the history"

Finnish (Suomi)

Anna ne! En anna! "Gimme those! No, I won't!"
Aatu osaa soutaa "Aatu can row"
Isorikas sika sökösakissa kirosi: "Filthy rich pig cursed in a stud poker gang"
Oi Dario, soi radio! "Oh Dario, hear the radio!" (alternatively "Oh Dario, plays the radio")
Ana, kanna kana: "Ana, carry the chicken"
Anna, Enok, sytytyskone, anna! "Give me the detonator, Enok, will you!"
Halla iski - miksi, Allah? "Frost struck - why, Allah?"
No Allah, halla on: "Well, Allah, it's frost."
Teit tiet "You made the roads"
Isyys! Iloitkaamme? Emma, akti oli syysi!: "Fatherhood! Delighted to hear that? Emma, the intercourse was all your fault!"
Neekeriväki siivosi, ilo oli iso, viisi kävi rekeen.: "The negro folk cleaned up, there was much joy, five went into the sleigh." (Note that this might not be politically correct any more.)
Tanu maalasi salaa munat: "Tanu painted the eggs in secrecy"
Ei Vääksy yskää vie: "^* Vääksy won't cure cough"
Aatto - saa taas ottaa "It's eve, it's time of drink again"
Nelli kusi sukillen "Nelli peed on her socks''
Äiti, en iske seksineitiä "Mom, I won't pick the sex-lass''
Nisumaa oli isäsi ilo aamusin "Wheatfield was your dad's joy on mornings
Alli pamautti v*ttua mapilla "Alli slammed the c*nt with a folder"
No, Oiva avioon! "Okay, let's get Oiva married"
Naamat hohtamaan! "Let's get the faces shiny!".
Atte vanno: on navetta "Atte swore: it's a cowsty"
Asa, Marimekko, SOK, Kemira, Masa (a list of Finnish corporations)
Motellista fiksu kuski Fatsille. Tom! "Get Daddy-O a smart driver from the motel. Tom!"
Aukustille ei lie ellit sukua? "You chicks ain't related to Aukusti, are you?"
Teetin Ellulle niteet "I had the books made for Ellu"
Hupaisa asia, Puh. "Funny thing, Pooh"
Alle sata satsia maista satasella "Get to taste less than 100 sets by a hundred bill"
Aasia riipii Raisaa "Asia bugs Raisa"
Alpo, kasaa Asa-kopla "Alpo, get the Asa gang together!"
Niilo, pirtu Tripoliin "Niilo, get the moonshine to Tripoli!"
Aparaattia haittaa rapa "The apparatus is slowed down by mud"
Amurissa hiipii Hassi ruma "Ugly Hassi stalks in Amuri" (This is a VERY politically incorrect joke - it refers to Greem party leader Satu Hassi and district Amuri in Tampere, where she lives)
Tillikassa (kapakassa) killit "Lads in (joint) Tillikka" (a famous restaurant in Tampere)
Ulla ja akat, Aakelle kaatakaa jallu "Ulla and cronies, get a brandy to Aake!"
Timantit otit, otit namit "The diamonds you took, you took the sweets"
Auta, satuta Satua "Help, hurt Satu"
Anomus: oo sumona "Proposal: be a sumo"
Allia niistät Siinailla "Sneezing Alli at Sinai"
Niiloni, Sinatra pani aina partani Sinoliin "Oh my Niilo, Sinatra dipped my beard always in Sinol"
Ollako vai ei, avokallo? "To be or not, crackskull?"
Olet isä, äläpä käpälääsi telo "You're father, so don't get your paw maimed"
Suruasussa hassu saurus "Funny saurian in mourning dress"
Melko siisti vitsi, iso Klem "Quite a neat joke, Big Klem"
Olat ravista, natsivartalo "Shake your shoulders, nazi-body"
Nuuka, taas Kamu maksaa takuun "Cheapskate, again your Pal will pay the bail"
Ile, makaa kameli "Go sleep with a camel, Ile"
Ikävä käräjä; räkäväki "Nasty lawsuit; snotty people
Epävakaa, raaka Väpe "Unstable and brutal Väpe" (Note: väpe is short from vääpeli, staff sergeant).
Motivaatiot toi Taavi, Tom "Motivation brought by Taavi and Tom''
Alaoksalla mallaskoala "Malt koala on lower branch"
Kääkättää Pete päättä: "Kääk!" "Quacks Pete without head: Quack!"
Alavin ei lie Nivala "Nivala (county in Pohjanmaa) isn't the most plateau-ish?"
Ai! Miksi akku tukka iski, Mia?: "Ouch! Why did battery hair strike me, Mia?"
Atte-kumiorava, varo imuketta!: "Rubber squirrel Atte, beware the cigarette holder!"
Avut noutaa Aatu ontuva "Limping Aatu retrieves the aides"
Nunna, hyvä sinisävy Hannun "Nun, see how nice blue shade has Hannu"
Alla kiusaa jakajaa suikalla "Alla teases the dealers with a kepi"
Nipottavat tapattavat Topin "Nit-pickers will get Topi killed"
Elli, luu huulille* "Elli, get the bone on your lips"
Napostelet sopan "You enjoy the soup"
Aloha oe, Leo Ahola (actually in Hawaiian; Leo Ahola is a Finnish name)
Aino kaataa konia "Aino is felling the nag"
Iloitsee ori, vapaa maapa Viro - Eesti oli "Happy is the stud, as free country again Viro (Estonia) was"
Autoradalta tapatat Lada-rotua "You get the Lada-people slain at racetrack"
''Aloite:: pese peti, Ola!" "Initiative: cleanse the bunk, Ola!"
Oli nunna Hannun ilo "The nun wasw Hannu's joy"
Aleksilla kallis kela "Aleksi's fishing reel is expensive"
Siestat seis ! "Quit having those siestas NOW!"
Risoiko Tokio, Sir ? "Did Tokyo bug you, Sir?"
Tunisian akka nai sinut The Tunisian broad will marry you"
Aino, stop: otsonia ! Aino, stop - its ozone out there!"
Aatu futaa! "Aatu kicks!" (alternatively: Aatu rocks! or Aatu kicks ass!)
Säkylän Oili on älykäs "Oili of Säkylä is intelligent"
No, ajokkirikkoja on "Well, he is a vehicle-wrecker"
Sakari-rakas "Dear Sakari"
Neulo taas, saat oluen "Sew again, please - you'll get a beer"
Akin omi Monika "Aki was owned by Monika"
Kas, kisaaja ajaa siksak! "See, the contestant is driving zigzag!"
Onassis, sano! "Say, Onassis!''
Ajaja naisasian: naisasianajaja "The advocate of women's issue: female barrister"
Innostunut sonni: "eager bull"
Neito sotien: "The lady of the wars"
Tissit, tosi isot tissit: "Boobs, very big boobs"
Naku sika haki sukan: "Naked pig get a sock"

The comedic ensemble Alivaltiosihteeri (literally: "State Undersecretary") has composed whole books of palindromic poems.

French

À Laval, elle l'avala. (In Laval, she swallowed it)
À l'étape, épate-la ! (Louise de Vilmorin) (At next stop, show her off!)
Bon sport, trop snob (good sport, too snob)
Eh, ça va la vache ? (Louise de Vilmorin) (Hey, how is it, cow?)
Elu par cette crapule. (Elected by that toad)
Emile Eric, notre valet, alla te laver ton ciré élimé. (Emile Eric, our valet, went to wash your slimy jacket)
Engage le jeu, que je le gagne ! (kick off the game, so that I win it)
Esope reste ici et se repose. (Aesop stays here and rests)
Et la marine va, papa, venir à Malte (And the ships will, dad, come to Malta) (alexandrine attributed to Victor Hugo).
Et Luc colporte trop l'occulte.
Et se resservir, ivresse reste. (And reserving oneself, merriness stays)
L'âme sûre ruse mal (Louise de Vilmorin)
L'ami naturel ? Le rut animal. (The natural friend? The animal rut) (Louise de Vilmorin)
La malade pédala mal (the sick pedalled bad).
La mariée ira mal (the wife will be ill).
Léon, émir cornu, d'un roc rime Noël. (Luc Etienne)
Léon a erré à Noël (Leon erred at Christmas.
Léon a rasé César à Noël (Leon shaved Caesar at Xmas).
Réussir à Paris : suer (succeed in Paris, sweat).
Sévère mal à l'âme, rêves. (Severe pain in the soul, dream)(Luc Etienne)
Sexe vêtu, tu te vexes (dressed sex, you get vexed) (Luc Etienne)
Suce ses écus. (suck these ecus) (Louise de Vilmorin)
Ta belle porte s'use trop, elle bat. (Your beautiful door gets used up too quickly, it beats)
Trace là mon nom à l'écart. (Write my name it in a retired place)
Tu l'as trop écrasé, César, ce Port-Salut !
Un roc lamina l'animal cornu.
Georges Perec wrote the longest palindrome ever (1247 words)

German

Ein Neger mit Gazelle zagt im Regen nie - "A negro with a gazelle never hesitates in the rain"
Reit nie tot ein Tier - "Never ride an animal to death"
Ein Esel lese nie - "A donkey should not read"
O Genie, der Herr ehre dein Ego! - "O Genius, the Lord praises your ego!"
Reliefpfeiler - "Pier of relief"
Alle Bananen, Anabella - "All bananas, Anabella"
Vitaler Nebel mit Sinn ist im Leben relativ - "Vital fog with meaning is relative in life"

Greek

Νίψον ανομήματα μη μόναν όψιν-"Cleanse our sins, not only our face (originally found in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul)"
Νοσώ. Σύ ος ει ίαμα, Ιησού, σώσον - "I am ill. You are healing, Jesus, save me"
Σος ειμί, τίμιε, σός "Yours, I am, honest, yours"

Hebrew

ילד כותב בתוך דלי - A boy writes inside a bucket
הדג בחר לחן לבלבל נחל רחב גדה - The fish picked a tune to confuse a wide stream
? אבי אל חי שמך למה המלך משיח לא יבא - A question: My father, you are a living god, why won't the Messianic King come?
דעו מאביכם כי לא בוש אבוש שוב אשוב אליכם כי בא מועד - An answer: Know that from your father: I will not be late, I shall return because the time has come.

רק פושטק עלוב בולע קטשופ קר - (Eran Hadas)

The longest Hebrew palindrome (in fact a full palindromic story) was created by Professor Ghil'ad Zuckermann and can be found in http://zuckermann.org/recreational.html

Hungarian

kis sík: "small plain"
a sah hasa: "the belly of the shah"
Legelöl ő legel: "He grazes uppermost"
Adósom a mosoda: "The laundry owes me."
Géza, kék az ég: "Géza, the sky is blue."
Rám német nem lel, elmentem én már: "The Germans won't find me, I'm already gone." (1943)
Indul a görög aludni: "The Greek goes to sleep."
Ìr a Mari: "Mary is writing."
Rémes tóga bagót sem ér: "Crap chiton worths nothing."
Kár a papnak a rák: "Crab is wasted on the priest."
Keresik a tavat a kis erek: "Small streams look for the lake."

Icelandic

"Vá! Má merk skatan nota tonnatakskrem á máv?": Wow! Can the distinguished skate use superglue cream on a seagull? (Posted on Baggalútur.)

"Amma sá afa káfa af ákafa á Samma.": Grandma saw grandpa grope Sam with fervour. (Also posted on Baggalútur.

Indonesian

Kasur Nababan rusak: "Nababan's matress is ruined"

Italian

Ai lati d'Italia: "At Italy's borders".
È Dio, lo gnomo mongoloide?: "Is the mongoloid gnome God?".
Avida di vita, desiai ogni amore vero, ma ingoiai sedativi, da Diva: "Eager of life, I desired every real love, but I ended swallowing sedatives, as a Diva".
Autore, ero tua: "Author, I was yours".
I topi non avevano nipoti: "The mice had no grandsons".
Otto, l'ateo poeta, lottò: "Otto, the atheist poet, fought".
Ero là, cercai lì acre calore: "I was there, there I looked for pungent warmth".
Oracolo caro: "Dear oracle".
I nasi sani: "The healthy noses".
Angela, la fata, fa la legna: "Angela, the fairy, makes firewood".
A complete Palindrome poetry, written by Roberto Morassi:

Ode a Roma Dorata

O citta' nuova, ti balen'Amore,

l'arte t'annoda. Ci nuota, la sera,

Morte ideale. Vidi matto, ratto,

serrarti, Diva, i nitidi livelli

ma i lati d'Eva, no ! Nave d'Italia

mille vili ditini avidi trarre

sott'a'rottami di vela, e dietro

mare salato, unica donna: te!

Tra le romane l'abitavo, un attico....

A. Taro (d'amor aedo)

A play by Giancarlo Russo, made entirely of palindrome phrases: ^*

Korean

내 아내
분실하실 분
다들 잠들다
다들 힘들다
다시 갑시다
아 좋다 좋아
통 술집 술통
주유소 소유주
나는 너 너는 나
이빠이 빠이빠이
다시마를 마시다
바로크는 크로바
다 이뿐이뿐이다
다시 합창합시다
포대 속에 속대포
짐 사이에 이사짐
자 빨리빨리 빨자
다만 고하고 만다
문방구 친구 방문
색갈은 짙은 갈색
여자 친구 친 자여
해는 솟아 솟는 해
소주 만 병만 주소
여보 안경 안 보여
다 같은 것은 같다
야 이통은 은통이야
지들만 이빠이 만들지
다친 구장이 장구친다
홀아비집 옆집 비아홀
소 있고 지게지고 있소
야 이집 앞이 앞집이야
여보게 저기 저게 보여?
야 이 달은 밝은 달이야
다 한통속. 계속 통한다.
나가다 오나 나오다 가나
다리 그리고 저고리 그리다
다 큰 도라지일지라도 큰다
아들 딸이 다 컸다 이 딸들아
다시 올 이월이 윤이월이올시다
다 간다 이 일요일 일요일이 다 간다
사전 사! 영한사전 사! 영영사전 사! 한영사전 사!
표 세 명값 자책한 과부가 부과한 책자값 명세표
가련하시다 사장집 아들 딸들아 집장사 다시 하련가

Latin

See also the la:Auxilium:Palindroma.

Ave, Eva!
Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor. (Quintilian)
Si bene te tua laus taxat, sua laute tenebis. (Plinius)
Subi dura a rudibus. "Endure hardships from the rude."
Signa te, signa, temere me tangis et angis.
Adoro te animo, domina et oro da.
Meritis servi sinum munis ivres sitirem.
Aspice'nam raro mittit timor arma nec ipsa.
Si se mente reget non tegeret Nemesis.
Et tiger non regit te. ("And the tiger does not rule thee.")
Sum summus mus. ("I am the mightiest mouse.")
In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni ("We go in circles at night and are consumed by fire.")

Latvian

ātram slidas sadils martā - for quick one skates will wear out in March

Lithuanian

sėdėk užu kėdės: a phrase. Means "Sit over the seat!".

Marathi (मराठी)

तो कवि डालडा विकतो. (That poet sells Dalda (a brand of hydrogenated vegetable oil).) Note that according to new Marathi spelling (शुद्धलेखन) standards, the word for poet should be written as कवी, and not as कवि. However, writing it as कवि achieves the perfect palindrome. In any case, witing the word as कवि is not entirely incorrect, albeit a bit old-fashioned; it follows the old rules for Marathi spelling (शुद्धलेखन), derived from the standards for written Sanskrit (संस्कृत).
The word डालडा (Dalda) in the above palindrome can be substituted with other palindromic words to produce such variants as तो कवि चहाच विकतो (That poet sells tea only), तो कवि रबर विकतो (That poet sells rubber), तो कवि सामोसा विकतो (That poet sells a samosa), तो कवि रडार विकतो (That poet sells RADAR) and तो कवि जहाज विकतो (That poet sells a ship). (Just proves that you can't live by poetry alone;you have to supplement your income by selling sundry things.)
चिमा काय कामाची? (Of what use is Chima (name of a girl)?) Note that the lengths of/characters for the i-sound in चि/ची in the beginning/end do not exactly match; to that extent this palindrome is not perfect.
साकर दही दर कसा? (What price yogurt and sugar?) Note that the first word in correct Marathi should have been साखर, and not साकर, but has been compromised to achieve a perfect palindrome.
रामाला भाला मारा. (Hit Ram with a javelin.) A perfect palindrome, without any spelling compromises.

Norwegian

Alle korkene ned i den ene krok, Ella. ((put)all the corks down in the one corner, Ella)
Agnes i senga. (Agnes name in the bed)
Alle reisetrette skal ete laks etter te, sier Ella. (All those tired of travelling shall eat salmon after tea, says Ella)
Anne var i Ravenna. (Anne was in Ravenna.)
Rolf Are vurderer om Arons ni drag i gardinsnora morer edru Vera Flor. (Rolf Are names evaluates wheter or not Aron's nine pull in the curtain string entertains sober Vera Flor names)

Persian

شو همدم بلبل بلب هر مهوش---

شکر بترازوی وزارت برکش

Polish

"Kobyła ma mały bok": (A mare has small side)
"Zakopane na pokaz": (Burried for show)
"Może jutro ta dama da tortu jeżom": (Maybe this lady will give some cake to hedgehogs tomorrow)
"Gór ech chce róg": (A horn needs mountains echoes)
"Może jeż łże jeżom?": (Maybe the hedgehog lies to other hedgehogs?)
"Żartem dano nadmetraż": (It was a joke, that they gave more space)
"I wabi wół ów i bawi": (Stag attracts and entertains)
"Akta generała ma mała renegatka": (General’s acts are held by a small female enegade)
"Rabi zna Zair, a Maria Zanzibar": (Rabi knows Zaire, and Maria knows Zanzibar)
"Co mi dał duch – cud, ład i moc": (What did the spirit give me? – miracle, order and power)
"Ej, i po pracy Car popije": (After work, even Tsar will drink)
"I Car komedia i demokraci": (Both Tsar and the democrats are comedy)
"Zula łowi, a Noe leje Leona i woła - luz": (Zula is catching, Noe is beating Leon and shouting “OK”)
"Tuli fotoradar – o, to filut": (He is cuddling a photo radar – he is a joker)
"Zaradny dynda raz": (The resourceful hangs only once)
"Ilu tuli filut Uli?": (How many are cuddled by Ula’s joker?)
"Łapał za Tokaj, a kota złapał": (He was catching Tokay wine, but he caught a cat)
"A guru w ONZ znowu ruga": (A principle in the UN is calling down again)
"Pętaka pętaj, a tępaka tęp": (Bind the kid and fight the dimwit)
"Zagwiżdż i w gaz": (Whistle, and get a move on)

Portuguese

"Socorram-me, subi no ônibus em Marrocos" ("Help me! I climbed the bus in Morocco")
"Me vé se a panela da moça é de aço, Madalena Paes, e vem" ("Check whether the lady's pan is made of steel , Madalena Paes, and come")
"Lâmina Animal" ("Animal Blade")
"Rir, o breve verbo rir" ("Laugh, the short verb laugh")
"Morram após a sopa marrom" ("Die after the brown soup")
"Ovo Novo" ("New egg")
"Roma me tem amor" ("Rome has love for me")
"Assim a aluna anula a missa" (this way, the schoolgirl calls off the Mass)
"A cara rajada da jararaca" (the streaky face of the jararaca kind of snake)
"Anotaram a data da maratona" (They annotated the date of the marathon)
"O romano acata amores a damas amadas e Roma ataca o namoro" (The roman complies the love to beloved ladies and Rome attacks the dating (Aproximate Translation)
"Oto come mocotó" (Oto eats a calf´s foot)
"Saíram o tio e oito Marias" (The uncle and eight Maries went outside)
"Ato idiota" (stupid action)
"Luz azul" (blue light)
"Orar é raro" (it is rare to pray)
"Roma é amor" (Rome is love)
"É a mãe!" (it's the mother!, a common Portuguese exclamation to express anger or as a retort to a disgreement)
"A mala nada na lama" (The briefcase swims in mud)

Romanian

Acru tip e Piţurcă! "What a sour guy is Piturca!"
Ai rămas acasa, Maria? "Did you stay home, Mary?"
Alina m-a luat să stau la Manila. "Alina took me to stay in Manila."
Au o navă nouă. "They have a new ship."
Ele fac cafele. "They make coffee."
Ele ne seduc cu desenele. "They seduce us with their drawings."
El a gătit agale. "He cooked it slowly."
El o să facă fasole. "He'll cook some beans."
Ene purta patru pene. "Ene wore four feathers."
Era nudă la Dunăre. "She was naked, facing the Danube."
Era o tipă răpitoare ! "She was a ravishing girl."
Era să pozez o pasăre. "I was about to photograph a bird."
Icre, pui, ciuperci. "Caviar, chicken, mushrooms."
Ion a luat luni vinul tău la noi. "Ion took away your wine on Monday."
Maria bea, că e bairam. "Mary's drinking for there's a party going on."
O ramă maro. "A brown frame."
Românii-s aşi în amor. "Romanians are aces in love."
Să nu iei un as. "Do not take an ace."

Russian

Тени нет: "No shadow"
Кит на море романтик: "The whale on the sea is romanticist"
Дорого небо да надобен огород: "Heaven is dear but the garden is necessary" (Dmitry Avaliani)
Я иду с мечем, судия!: "I am coming with a sword, the judge!" (by Gavrila Derzhavin)
Аргентина манит негра: "Argentina attracts a Negro" (by Mikhail Bulgakov)
Кулинар, храни лук: "Cook, keep the onion"
Ранил укусом осу кулинар : "A cook wounded a wasp by biting it"
Министр отлично кончил торт синим: "A minister perfectly finished a cake with blue"
Он вор, но мил. Но и мы не лезли, пока не накопил "зелеными" он "лимон" ровно: He is a thief, but nice. But we did not disturb him until he saved exactly million bucks.
А роза упала на лапу Азора: But rose fell on Azor's paw.
Мария Ире во дворе: "Нет у сутенеров доверия Ирам".: Maria tells Ira in courtyard, "Pimps have no faith in Iras".

Slovene

Ali se bo Ana obesila?: "Will Anna hang herself?"
Osem opitih hiti po meso: "Eight drunk people run to get meat."
Ema, zakaj ni vinjaka zame?: "Emma, why isn't there any brandy for me?"
Perica reže raci rep: "Laundress cuts the duck's tail."
Cesar prasec: "Emperor pig"

Spanish

Anita, la gorda lagartona, no traga la droga latina. "Anita, the fat sly woman, does not swallow the Latin drug."
Dábale arroz a la zorra el abad. "The abbot was giving the vixen rice."
Sé verlas al revés. "I know how to see them backwards."
La ruta nos aportó otro paso natural. "The route contributed whit another natural pass to us."
Las Nemocón no comen sal. "The Nemocóns don't eat salt."
Anás usó tu auto, Susana. "Anás used your car, Susana."
Adán no cede con Eva, Yavé no cede con nada. "Adam doesn´t yield for Eve, Yavé doesn´t yield for anything."
Así Mario oirá misa. "That way Mario will attend mass."
¡Abusón, acá no suba! "¡Pay attention, you can´t go up in here!"
Se corta Sarita a tiras atroces. "Sarita slices herself through horrible cuts."
Amigo, no gima. "Friend, don't moan"
Anita lava la tina. "Anita washes the bathtub."
Es Adán, ya ve, yo soy Eva y nada sé. "It is Adam, now you see, I am Eve and I know nothing."
Átale, demoníaco Caín, o me delata. "Tie him, evil Caine, or he exposes me."
¿Bérgamo?, ¡no, Magreb!.
Mal si le das la fe falsa del Islam. "Bad if you give him/her the false faith of Islam."
¡Oro! ¡Ya hay oro! "Gold! There's gold now!"
O rey, o joyero. "Either king or jeweler."
Alá, yo soy de Mahoma el dios. Oídle a Mohamed: yo soy Alá. "Allah, I am the God of Mahoma. Hear Muhammad: I am Allah."
O sacáis ropa por si acaso. "Or you take out some clothes, just in case"
Sometamos o matemos. "Let's submit or kill."
Oír Aida en ópera: la lírica Cirila la repone a diario. "To hear Aida in Opera: the Cirilic lyric replaces her daily."
Allí por la tropa portado, traído a ese paraje de maniobras, una tipa como capitán usar boina me dejara, pese a odiar toda tropa por tal ropilla. "There behaved by the troop, brought to that maneuvered place, a gal like a captain let me use beret, in spite of hating every troop by that cloth."
¡A tu padre, cerda puta! "To your father, pig whore!"
Aten al planeta. "Tie the planet."
Aji traga la lagartija. "The lizard swallows chili"
Echele Leche "Pour milk"
Somos o no somos "We are or we aren't"
Haz la salsa. "make the salsa"
Odio la luz azul al oído. "I hate blue light on my ear"
Elba cortó otro cable. "Elba cut another cable"
Yo soy. "I am."

Swedish

Du har bra hud: Meaning "You've got good skin"
Ni rakar bra, Karin: Meaning "You shave well, Karin"
Ni talar bra latin: Meaning "You speak good Latin"
Anne var i Ravenna: Meaning "Anne was in Ravenna"
God arab åt tå, bara dog: Meaning "Good Arab ate toe, just died"
Moratös gav dem ett te med vag, söt arom: Meaning "Girl from Mora (the town where Vasaloppet ends) gave them a tea with vague, sweet scent"
Tre bra brassar bar Bert: Meaning "Three good Brazilians were carrying Bert"
Mus rev inuits öra, sa röst i universum: Meaning "Mouse scratched Inuit’s ear, said voice in universe"
Nej, leta i ateljén!: Meaning "No, search in the studio!"
I Reval sitta ni alla inatt i slaveri: Meaning "In Reval (Tallinn) you all will sit tonight in slavery"
Sirap i Paris: Meaning "Syrup in Paris"
God apa gavs galna anlag, svag apa dog: Meaning "Good monkey was given crazy genetic disposition, weak monkey died." -- note that all the spaces match, which is rare for longer palindromes
Märk stupid abrakadabra: ur fin ränsel lyfta rappa japaner samma mimosa som i mammas rena pajapparat fylles när ni fruar bada karbad i putskräm: Meaning "Note stupid abracadabra: from fine knapsack do swift Japanese lift the same mimosa as is filled in mother's clean pie machine when you wives bath tub-bath in shoe polish" (archaic style)
anropa aporna!: Meaning "Call the monkeys!".
Dromedaren Alpotto planerade mord: Meaning "Alpotto the dromedary was planning murder".
Medan ammor tre i Floda nakna ses aga lam i Malaga ses ankan Adolf i ert rom mana dem: Meaning "While ammor three in Floda naked is seen corporal punishment lam in Malaga is seen the canard Adolf in your rum urge them" (SYSTRAN)

Tagalog

Sila aalis.: Meaning "They will leave."
Para sa mansanas na masarap: Meaning "For a better-tasting apple"
O, tatayo yata to.: Meaning "Look, I think this will stand up."
Nasa bayabasan: Meaning "In the guava grove"
Aba! Bababa ba?: Meaning "Hey! Going down?"
Ano na?: Meaning "What now?"

In Dravidian script it is often tougher to produce palindromes, due to the structure of the language. however here is one example in a boxed semi-palindrome as it means the same when read across or down but not reverse. சி வா ஜி வா யி லே ஜி லே பி The line reads: Sivaji vayile Jilebi i.e. There is a Jilebi in Shivaji's mouth. It reads the same across and down. "காக்கா" meaning crow is one of the few true palindromes in Tamil. "மோரு தருமோ" meaning "Can I get some buttermilk(?)" is one of the longest sentence-palindromes in the language.

Telugu

As with other Brahmi-originated scripts, palindromes are rare in Telugu. However, one prominent example stands out for our discussion:-

వికట కవి (vi-ka-Ta-ka-vi/ 'A cunning poet')

Popular folklore has it that the above term was reputedly coined by the Hindu Goddess of Wisdom, Saraswati to describe the 15th century Telugu poet, Tenali Ramakrishna, after he had tricked her into bestowing him both wealth and wisdom, when she specifically asked him to choose either of the two and not, as it were, both.

Turkish

Ey Edip pide ye.
Ey Edip adanada pide ye.
Anastas mum satsana.
Anastas kabak satsana.
Al kasada sakla.
Altan, attan atla.
Pay ederek iki kerede yap.
Rıza, Haluk okula hazır.
Zamkı çok, o çıkmaz.

Võro

Kadõ um mu õdak. "My evening is envious."
Kummuh um mu hummuk. "My morning is swollen."

Symmetry by sound

Hungarian

A bátya gatyába: "The brother in underpants"
Indul a kutya, a tyùk aludni: "The dog, the hen are going to sleep."
Erőszakos kannak sok a szőre: "Aggressive males have lots of hair."
Kis erek mentén, láp sík ölén odavan a bánya rabja: jaj, Baranyában a vadon élő Kis Pálnét nem keresik!: "Along the small streams and in the flat lap of the moorland gone the prisoner of the mine: oh, nobody looks for Ms. Kis Pál who lived in the woods of Baranya." (Created by Demők Béla.)

Japanese

See also Kaibun.

Ta-ke-ya-bu ya-ke-ta (竹薮焼けた) - A bamboo grove has been burned.
Wa-ta-shi ma-ke-ma-shi-ta-wa (私負けましたわ) - I have lost.
Na-ru-to wo to-ru-na (なるとを取るな) - Do not take my naruto (spiral-shaped fishcake).
Shi-na-mo-n pa-n mo re-mo-n pa-n mo na-shi (シナモンパンもレモンパンも無し) - There is neither cinnamon bread nor lemon bread.
Na-ga-ki yo-no to-ho-no ne-bu-ri-no mi-na me-za-me na-mi-no-ri-bu-ne-no o-to-no-yo-ki-ka-na (長き世の遠の眠りの皆目覚め波乗り船の音の良きかな) - Tanka
Shi-n-bu-n-shi (新聞紙) - Newspaper
Mi-ga-ka-nu ka-ga-mi (磨かぬ鏡) - Un-wiped mirror
Ni-ku-no-oo-i-oo-no-ku-ni (肉の多い大乃国)

Korean

Da keun do-ra-ji-il-ji-ra-do keun-da. (다 큰 도라지일지라도 큰다.) - Even full-grown balloonflower will grow.
Ga-ryeon-ha-si-da sa-jang-jip a-deul-ddal-deul-a jip-jang-sa da-si ha-ryeon-ga. (가련하시다 사장집 아들딸들아 집장사 다시 하련가.) - Pitiful are the president's siblings - will they come back to estate agentry?
Da-si-hab-chang-hab-si-da.(다시 합창합시다.) - Let's sing together again.

Symmetry by words

Some palindromes use words as units rather than letters. Examples are:

You can cage a swallow, can't you, but you can't swallow a cage, can you?
Fall leaves as soon as leaves fall.
So patient a nurse to nurse a patient so.
"Come, shall I touch your whatever, darling? I am so randy." "So am I, darling; whatever your touch I shall come."
"Son, I am able," she said, "though you scare me." "Watch," said I, "beloved." I said, "Watch me scare you." "Though," said she, "able am I, son."

Symmetry by lines

Still other palindromes take the line as the unit. The poem Doppelganger, composed by James A. Lindon, is such a palindrome.

Doppelganger

Entering the lonely house with my wife

I saw him for the first time

Peering furtively from behind a bush --

Blackness that moved,

A shape amid the shadows,

A momentary glimpse of gleaming eyes

Revealed in the ragged moon.

A closer look (he seemed to turn) might have

Put him to flight forever --

I dared not

(For reasons that I failed to understand),

Though I knew I should act at once.

I puzzled over it, hiding alone,

Watching the woman as she neared the gate.

He came, and I saw him crouching

Night after night.

Night after night

He came, and I saw him crouching,

Watching the woman as she neared the gate.

I puzzled over it, hiding alone --

Though I knew I should act at once,

For reasons that I failed to understand

I dared not

Put him to flight forever.

A closer look (he seemed to turn) might have

Revealed in the ragged moon.

A momentary glimpse of gleaming eyes

A shape amid the shadows,

Blackness that moved.

Peering furtively from behind a bush,

I saw him for the first time,

Entering the lonely house with my wife.

Trivia

The palindrome "rats live on no evil star" is the title of a song by Ookla the Mok.

The book " A Palindrome Story" is written as one continuous palindrome. The middle word is "sexes."