Of Kure bamboo,
through generations, the bamboo cutter—
though in fields and hills,
we saw not only such bitter turns.

Meaning

We who have lived by cutting bamboo through generation after generation—even when we have dwelt in the fields and hills—have not known only such bitter trials.

Commentary

After hearing of Prince Kuramochi’s hardships in obtaining “the jeweled branch of Horai,” the Bamboo Cutter recited this poem.

“Kure bamboo” refers to bamboo transplanted from Wu, that is, madake. “Kure bamboo” serves as a pillow word for “yo (generation).” The words “yo-yo (generation after generation),” “fushi (knots/turns),” and “bamboo cutting” are linked by associative wordplay.

Source

Taketori Monogatari

Other

With boundless longing, the fur robe burned not; The sleeves, once wet, are now dried— Today at last I will wear it.
Had I but known it would burn without a trace, The fur robe, I would have set it aside and only looked.
My sleeves today are dried; so of wretchedness, the thousand kinds will surely be forgotten.
Hearing it as true, I went to look—and found: words, ornamented— a jeweled branch.

Of Kure bamboo, through generations, the bamboo cutter— though in fields and hills, we saw not only such bitter turns.

Of Kure bamboo,
through generations, the bamboo cutter—
though in fields and hills,
we saw not only such bitter turns.