This is an illustration that Hokusai drew for a Kyoka E-hon (a picture book of poetry) titled 'Sumidagawa Ryogan Ichiran,' published in 1806 when he was about 47 years old.

This scene depicts a winter morning, with two Geisha (female entertainers) visiting a teahouse. This part of the Sumida River is situated just upstream from Asakusa, and was famous for producing roof tiles. The pile of brushwood on the right is used for firing the tiles.

We wonder why Hokusai drew the humans so large compared to the size of the houses.

The black object resting atop of a pole in the middle seems to be a kingfisher (Kawasemi in Japanese) and the two birds flying over the river are likely ‘Miyakodori’ (Eurasian Oystercatcher), as indicated by the subtitle ‘Miyakodori in Sumida’

The poem on the right is read: 青々園 すめは(住めば)また 都鳥とて 草の戸も 春秋を見る 月花の門

The poem on the left is read: 夜な夜なに なれてやともに 隅田河 隈(くま)なき月の 都鳥まて(で) 緑亀年 It is next to impossible to provide translations of this type of poetry, as the meanings are quite subtle, and to a large extent lost in time.