Classic Poem

A green girl from the back country—employment was my quest
I came up to the capital—not knowing east from west
I only knew my dear auntie, who lives in Senbon, north.
And thanks to her I found a job; she was my guarantor
A hundred coppers moving costs! My budget's lost, for sure!
My valise had one single quilted robe in it—no more
Sprout green it was, embroidered all with cranes and baby pines;
the sleeve mouths and sleeve linings were a scarlet rich and fine
I'm honest and a healthy lass—the master's true delight!
On three days' bush-leave holiday I toured all the sights:
to Gion, Kiyomizu, and Hongan-ji temple so blessed,
to Atago, the Great Buddha, and Sanjo Bridge, no less
The next day, then, I'm off again with Auntie for some fun:
I've heard so much about theaters—now I'm seeing one!
Those fellows grab and hurl themselves about—such dangerous spills!
They slash and hack away, one at another—gives me chills!
The fox Tadanobu is played by Onoe Baiko,
and the sushi maker's daughter—she's Nakamura Richo
This Richo and this Baiko—both these actors are top-drawer;
at next season's attraction each will show his stuff and more
While heading home we rest a spell at Shijo riverbed;
I'm in a daze! Kyoto's as posh, as swanky as they said!
From that day on, I scrubbed my face each morning as a start;
I want to wash away all country clay that's in my heart
I try on eight-penny powder—makes your skin so nice and white
“Plum Blossom” scented hair pomade—six ounces seems about right
It's been some time now since I've had wheat rice or miso stews;
whenever I spot tea porridge it just gives me the blues
I've learned to smoke, can even handle little sips of wine—
invite me to your party, and you'll have the best of times!
Now I can chirp, “Oh, not my way!” and “Clown, go hike a mile!”
I hum the puppet dying scenes in Kunidayu style
I flatten down the best I can my Kinshojo coiffure,
then tease out both my “lantern flares” as much as they'll endure
I sport eight-inch-long hairpins—ones with tortoiseshell inlay
What's that? Brass earwax scrapers? Oh, my dear, they're quite passé!
That plain white smock I took apart, retailored it, and dyed it:
now half of it's a darling “mouse” and half bellflower violet;
right in the middle is his crest—the crest of Ogawa Eishi
I wear the highest platform clogs with thongs so slim and lacy
Nearby there lives a fellow, name of Chushichi “the card”;
I asked him first for little loans—you know, when things were hard
Sometimes he'd take me for a date, and where is it we'd go?
Off to the Nijo New Quarter or behind old Goryo
Two hundred coppers paid the rent, three hundred went for wine;
right after our night's tippling was the time to say my “lines”
The lines I fed him! Most of them were just my little scams.
But then Chushichi ran out on me; the boy went on the lam.
Now since I've come to have a little money, just for me,
I wear crepe when I'm on the town; for casual wear, pongee
The crepe and pongee range of silks seems easiest to wear
Those Madras plaids from Ome—oh, they're far too coarse to bear!
“But have you not heard?
Your old dad in the country—long he's dwelt in poverty!
How can you prance with lofty airs, your days a boundless spree?
Miss, tell us this! We know your wage, precisely what you earn:
just thirty monme —yes, that's all—each semiannual term!”