Ode to Retards
version one
In my neighborhood somewhere
Where I live in Japan
There is a facility
For the retarded
IQs below 70
I see them in the morning
Waiting for my bus
Their faces unique
Their movements irregular
Everything they need for the day
Strapped to their bodies
Their lunchbox, pen case
Train pass, name card
Written in the simplest of 3 alphabets
They meet their fellows
Talk and laugh on their way
In their strangely inflected voices
Go to school to learn simple things
Others step around them
As if afraid to be infected
In my neighborhood sometimes
Where I live in Japan
It is easy to view me
As retarded
Height over 180
People see me in the morning
Waiting for my bus
My face unique
My movements irregular
Everything I need for the day
Strapped to my back
My lunchbox, pen case
Bus pass, work ID
Written in simple English alphabet
Sometimes I meet a fellow
Talk and laugh on the way
In our strangely inflected voices
Go to school to teach simple things
Others step around us
As if afraid to be infected
Ode to Retards
version two
In my neighborhood somewhere
In my neighborhood sometimes
Where I live in Japan
Where I live in Japan
There is a facility
It is easy to view me
For the retarded
As retarded
IQs below 70
Height over 180
I see them in the morning
People see me in the morning
Waiting for my bus
Waiting for my bus
Their faces unique
My face unique
Their movements irregular
My movements irregular
Everything they need for the day
Everything I need for the day
Strapped to their bodies
Strapped to my back
Their lunchbox, pen case
My lunchbox, pen case
Train pass, name card
Bus pass, work ID
Written in the simplest of 3 alphabets
Written in simple English alphabet
Sometimes they meet their fellows
Sometimes I meet a fellow
Talk and laugh on their way
Talk and laugh on our way
In their strangely inflected voices
In our strangely inflected voices
Go to school to learn simple things
Go to school to teach simple things
Others step around them
Others step around us
As if afraid to be infected
As if afraid to be infected
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