Back from the Dead
A big hello to all my friends!
Now I don’t know how many of you still remember me - after all my last post on this forum was waaaay back in 2013. Around that time I started a new job at a place that had sucked out my very will to live. No, I’m not exaggerating - that particular office started at nine and did not under any circumstance allow its employees to leave its premises, even for a minute, before seven. It put its employees under constant surveillance (CCTV cameras); it was ‘forbidden’ to get up from the chair or to talk to a colleague (except when the women were invited to the boss’s cabin for sexual harassment). The use of mobile phones was not allowed, neither was it allowed to consume any food that was not supplied by the office canteen. Each of us were made to do the work of three people, and that too in an atmosphere of relentless stress. Sounds a lot like being in a jail, right?
Within days of joining, my activities on this forum had died a swift death. Predictably, I couldn’t last there for more than three years. But even after leaving the firm I couldn’t shake off its effects on my psyche. Something was broken inside me. Other setbacks followed - these were health related. Things got so bad, in fact, that until a couple of days ago my daily activity was limited lying in bed all day playing games on my phone. Just anything to get through the day - only to pass sleepless nights full of guilt and regret. I was making zero contribution: towards the world OR towards my own well-being.
So were the days passing by when yesterday, in response to a totally unrelated search, my page from this forum popped out of nowhere. I don’t know if it was a sign from a Higher Power or just plain coincidence. But I was curious. I started going through my old posts. It was then, suddenly, that I was hit by the realization that there used to be a time when I was alive - not just merely breathing but well and truly alive. There was a time when I was still passionate about things, I was actually doing something worth my while. Alright, it was nothing earth-shattering or clever, or even useful, but it was at least stimulating work [stimulating for my (modest) level of intellect]. What had I done in the intervening years that had me just as enthused?
So, after five long years, once again I felt inspired. I don’t know if I will be able to write regularly from now onwards, or if this is just a one off. But at least I have had the motivation to get off my butt and do something, for a change. In doing so, I have also felt the bite of time. I don’t know if LJ is an active community anymore. The things that kept me occupied five years ago - Harutoki, Saiunkoku Monogatari, Inuyasha - are probably dead topics now. But so have I been. I have not proceeded beyond them to acquire new interests. So I have started by translating a song that was sitting in my laptop for many years. I love the tongue in cheek quality of the lyrics - never fails to put a smile on my face. Also, it has been beautifully sung by Naozumi Takahashi-san. I have not been able to identify the lyrist or composer of this song. If anybody has the information (provided people still listen to Harutoki) kindly provide the same and I’ll update.
Denkousekka no Koi (Electrifying Love)
CD: Haruka naru toki no naka de 3 - Ariake no Uta
Lyrics by: ?
Composed by: ?
Sung by: Naozumi Takahashi
Akai yuuhi mogitori ageru
Ore no moeru koko da yo
Kocchi wo muite kurenakya naku yo
Umi wa zenbu ore no namida
I’ll pluck out the red setting sun and offer it to you
It is my burning heart, after all
If you don’t turn your face towards me, I will start to cry
The ocean was formed from my tears
Kamome ni naranai ka
Masshiro na suhada wo misete
Senaka no suiheisen
Sono mukou ni wa
Nani ga aru no ka
Takara sagashi ni yukou no
Won’t you turn into a seagull,
And show me your pure white skin?
Your back is my horizon
Does something lie beyond it?
Let’s go look for that treasure
Atsukute hakanai denkousekka no yume
Amakute suppai denkousekka no koi
Hot and fleeting, these lightning dreams
Sweet and sour, this electrifying love
Matte yo matte ore no binetsu wo
Kuchiutsushi de tsutaesasete
Sono yubi wa rashinban
Ore no kimochi wo ayatsutte
Suki demo kirai demo ii
Sono manazashi de sono tameiki de
Kanjiru tokoro wo oshiete
Stop my light fever, oh, stop it
Convey your love to me, mouth to mouth
Your finger is a compass
That manipulates my feelings
Whether I like it or hate it.
With your glance, with your sighs
Teach me where you want to feel
Atsukute hakanai denkousekka no yume
Amakute suppai denkousekka no koi
Hot and fleeting, these lightning dreams
Sweet and sour, this electrifying love
Mitasarenai omoi
Mizu ni utsutta mangetsu wo
Tsukande iru mitai de
Tanoshii koto wo sagashitsudzukeru
Itsuka omae ni au made
These unfulfilled feelings
Are like grasping the shadow
Of the full moon in the water
I keep looking for things to entertain me
Until the day I finally meet you
Atsukute hakanai denkousekka no yume
Ichibyou no eien sa denkousekka no koi
Hot and fleeting, these lightning dreams
Eternity inside a moment - this electrifying love