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The Wonderful World of Japanese Writers of English |
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| Here's an essay, story, and poem written originally in English. |
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Vocabulary Build-Up |
Here, some of the words from
"Cafeteria" have been selected to facilitate your comprehension
of the poem. Read the sentences carefully, and choose the correct
answer. Click  to find out if
you are right or wrong. |
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1. In days past, the barbarians had a custom of men dragging
women away from the campfire to make them their wives. 2. Mr. Boo's childhood idol was Dennis the Menace, which has
affected his mental state because he often makes a nuisance
of himself in public. 3. A yawn is an expression of our being tired. 4. In the kitchen at the college cafeteria, the cooks prepare
meals for a large number of people in cauldrons. 5. The politician kisses babies and shakes hands so that everybody
will think he is amicable. |
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6. Downtown Osaka is bustling with thousands of people
and vehicles. 7. The Eskimos are immune to the cold because they
are accustomed to it. 8. It is a shame to see so many New Yorkers addicted to
drugs. 9. If our skin gets dry in the wintertime, it's a good idea
to soak in a warm bath. 10. The mesh doors in American homes let the air in,
but not the mosquitoes and flies. |
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11. Elderly people tend to have a lot of wrinkles on
their faces. 12. When we eat, we use saliva to help swallow our
food. 13. Pavlov, the famous scientist, trained his dogs to drool
when they heard a bell. 14. The basketball player sprained his ankle, and it started
to swell immediately. 15. Tigers' fans believe that a 10-0 loss to the Giants is
a bitter defeat. |
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by Kono Keiko |
| They swarm at the cafeteria Dragging nuisances and yawns of the day Tons of stew boiled in a cauldron Now served and spilled in an amicable bustling Sociability re-built Passing salt and habitual smiles They are immune to mild fatigue And so they are addicted to tender Nourishment Mocha pink lip color soaks into meshes of wrinkles Saliva wells up in a warm meat-colored membrane Grease drools Tongue rolls Its taste buds swelling in hidden red tissue Continuously to wring pleasure, Desperately to chew compassion, Out of bitter reality |
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Multiple Choice Exercise |
| Choose the right answer from
a, b, and c. Click to find if you are right or wrong. |
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1. The choice of "swarm" rather than "walk
to" ... 2. Eating, drinking, and "sociability" are connected
because .... 3. We know the poet is a careful observer because ... 4. The words "wring pleasure" rather than just "eat"
tell us ... |
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