English poem
Kaeri-Odori[99]
by Lafcadio Hearn (1850–1904)
(Province of Sanuki)
I am not sure of the real meaning of the name Kaeri-Odori (lit. "turn-dance" or "return-dance").
Oh! the cruelty, the cruelty of my mother-in-law!--
(Chorus) Oh! the cruelty!
Even tells me to paint a picture on running water! If ever I paint a picture on running water, You will count the stars in the night-sky!
Count the stars in the night-sky!
--Come! let us dance the Dance of the Honorable Garden!--
Chan-chan! Cha-cha! Yoitomose, Yoitomose!
Who cuts the bamboo at the back of the house?--
(Chorus) Who cuts the bamboo?--
My sweet lord's own bamboo, the first he planted,--
The first be planted?
--Come! let us dance the Dance of the Honorable Garden!--
Chan-chan! Cha-cha! Yoitomose, Yoitomose!
Oh! the cruelty, the cruelty of my mother-in-law!--
Oh! the cruelty!
Tells me to cut and make a hakama out of rock! If ever I cut and sew a hakama of rock, Then you will learn to twist the fine sand into thread,--
Twist it into thread.
--Come! let us dance the Dance of the Honorable Garden!--
Chan-chan! Cha-cha! Yoitomose, Yoitomose! Chan-chan-chan!
A divided skirt of a peculiar form, worn formerly by men chiefly, to-day worn by female students also.