鬼束ちひろ - 書きかけの手紙

Chihiro Onitsuka – Unfinished Letter     

I painfully remember that  

I cried after being scolded,  

I corrected my behavior after getting a slap, and  

I learned after being taught  

I always fail to write a letter

Before my experiences of getting hurt while remaining weak and 

Of apologizing for not completing something become sorrowful scars

A short reply that has arrived at

That town where I was not able to locate or find myself

“It is okay even if you are not decent”

I ridiculously remember that

I blamed you when scolded,

I was chagrined when exposed, and

I enjoyed conversation

I still cannot write a letter without using the word “I’m done for” or “stupid” or leaving a trace

Those days, I was not able to be nice to you

Those days, I vented only my agony on you

I cannot forget any of them

You replied, “It is okay even if you are not normal”

I managed to understand the words I was not able to understand, but

I used a dictionary for someone

I relied on even something unreliable

Probably because I had feelings that cannot be found anywhere

That town where I was not able to locate or find myself

Those days, I was not able to be nice to you

Those days, I vented only agony on you

I cannot forget any of them

You replied,

“It is okay even if you are not decent”

“It is okay even if you are not normal”

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手紙 [tegami]: a letter