Famous in Edo A poor row house She carries five children A daughter, the youngest, just seven years old Living in a cramped row house Though neighbors speak ill of her And everyone despises her She never stops helping others— That’s the kind of mother she is Her back tells no stories For it is meant to carry her children Even to a thief, she offers a bowl of rice Believing that a full stomach Can change a person She skips meals to save money Rents homes for others In her narrow row house She stretches not even her legs That’s the kind of mother she is \"Never speak ill of your parents Even if they strip their own skin It’s to do something for their children That’s what it means to be a parent.\" Be it the poor or the wealthy A parent’s feelings are the same Though there are limits to what they can do Never put them into categories That’s what Mother taught us Late into the night She stitches and mends Diligently saving every coin Even a rare bowl of noodles Brings her joy In the eyes of the world They call her greedy and selfish Yet still, she endures Her back is rounded From carrying children A round back suits her A cheerful soul Yet she often weeps Her sides hold space To embrace others warmly She accepts even strangers Making no distinctions To her, everyone is her child So she scolds She praises She cries with others And she celebrates with them too If life becomes overwhelming Forget the present for a while Look back And you’ll see the strength of Edo mothers Unshakable and bold She hides her struggles from others But shares her joys freely She doesn’t smile all the time But she always brings smiles to others That’s Her way of life In the face of fate There’s no distinction between rich or poor When you consider all the ties we share There are no strangers— Only family She gives freely Never stingy Never critical Every moment Is irreplaceable That’s her way of living Always needed by someone— That’s who she is Her back continues to bend Under the weight of the children she’s carried Her heart always speaks to us Telling the tale of a mother A story that will always be heard