What We Heard About the Japanese -- Rachel Rose

(Poem #132)What We Heard About the Japanese We heard they would jump from buildings at the slightest provocation: low marks On an exam, a lovers' spat or an excess of shame. We heard they were incited by shame, not guilt. That they Loved all things American. Mistrusted anything foreign. We heard their men liked to buy schoolgirls' underwear And their women did not experience menopause or other Western hysterias. We heard they still preferred to breastfeed, Carry handkerchiefs, ride bicycles and dress their young like Victorian Pupils. We heard that theirs was a feminine culture. We heard That theirs was an example of extreme patriarchy. That rape Didn't exist on these islands. We heard their marriages were arranged, that They didn't believe in love. We heard they were experts in this art above all others. That frequent earthquakes inspired insecurity and lack of faith. That they had no sense of irony. We heard even faith was an American invention. We heard they were just like us under the skin. -- Rachel Rose