The Asian Tastes

I have grown up all over, but for the majority of my life, I have resided on a tiny island to the south of Japan. Okinawa holds the majority of my memories, and I therefore cherish it in a special place in my heart.

Being a person who, not of Okinawan descent, but heavily influenced by their culture, I came to America with a greater love of Japanese rock, anime, and manga than most "hardcore" American fans.

I remember one day hanging out with my friend Britney. It was actually a wonder we were friends in the first place, considering she was outrageously religious and I wasn't. Perhaps it was actually that which drew us together; we loved to argue with people. In any case, she basically hated everything I loved: video games, suspense movies, mystery novels, and above all, rock'n'roll, under the basis that all the songs nowadays are about sex.

We were in my room, her reading a fantasy novel from my vast collection of books, me playing video games. This song came onto my stereo, and she glared at me with scorn coursing through her pupils.

So, to accomodate, I translated some of the lyrics for her.

I want to spit out these creaking thoughts
Because they're the only proof of my existence.
My future that I should have grabbed
Contradicts "dignity" with "freedom."

I want to erase the distorted afterimage
Because I can see my limits in it.
Near the window of my overly concious self
Last year's calender has no dates on it.

I'll erase it
I'll rewrite it
Worthless grandiose illusions.
I barely made it alive from this
Lingering sense of existence
I'll rewrite it
Meaningless imagination is a driving force
That completes you

Give me your body and soul

Needless to say, this bit of poetry changed her mind quite a bit.