If you were to ask me if I believe in Ghosts… – Romantic Poetry

Posted by Rock Kitaro on July 21, 2013
Posted in: About the Author, Food for Thought, Original Stories. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

tears_of_sadness

If You were to ask me if I believe in Ghosts…

By Rock Kitaro
July 21, 2013

If you were to ask me if I believe in ghost… I’d tell you yes.
I see them everyday.
I hear them. I even interact with them.
Not by choice, but by obligation.
They wander the halls and even drive in cars.
I observe the chilling affects of their cause,
And I shudder to think that I play any part
Despite being hollow shells of what used to be,
They’re difficult to ignore.
Not Angry. Not sad. Not Happy. Not Glad
Desensitized of all forms of love with a lack of purpose,
Their melancholy infects and attacks, to the point
That my energy is depleted just by fending them off.
…
I grieve for these ghosts. I loved them.
…
They are not dead.
Just not alive in my world.

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The Bridge to Clearwater Beach – My Own Personal Kingdom

Posted by Rock Kitaro on July 14, 2013
Posted in: About the Author. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
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“Fly” Korean song by Geeks –

When you think of Tampa Bay, what generally comes to mind? When most people think of South Florida, they usually think of Sea World, Disneyland, and the exotic club scenes of Miami. I think you may be hard-pressed to find many talking about the city of Tampa. If you did, you’d probably hear of the hundreds of strip clubs or the sports teams that constantly make a national impact in the various leagues.

But living in Tampa, Florida for eight years now…I’ve never done any of that. I’ve never been to a strip club, taken in the sights of the theme parks or even care to visit Miami. Does that make me lame or dull? Maybe… I grin… I don’t think so. I’m still relatively young, and ambitiously, I’ll tell you that compared to what I’ve dreamed, the worlds and complicated characters I’ve created…They make Miami those aforementioned attractions seem like the black-and-white pictures you’ll find of undeveloped new lands from the Great Depression era.

This isn’t to slight anyone who enjoys such attractions…only to differentiate that not everyone needs such sights to stimulate the imagination. For a romanticist such as myself, all I need is that which nature provides. The open sky that seems limitless, the perpetual motion of the oceans that shows an endless abundance of energy…and the wind…The wind that allows me to fly every time I close my eyes. It’s amazing.

This little memoir is a piece I’ve written to elaborate on how this bridge has served as my own Fortress of Solitude. Since 2005, I’ve found myself embarking to this destination every time I feel lost or have strayed off course. And every time I’ve climbed up that bridge, I’ve carried with me chains of animosity and suicidal thoughts caused by heavy self-loathing. And every time I walk back down…I feel resurrected as an entirely new individual. I can’t blame those around me for not keeping up…I never stay the same and this is why.

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20130630_190754CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Dragon Ash – Episode 2 – Short Story

Posted by Rock Kitaro on June 23, 2013
Posted in: Original Stories. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

By: Rock Kitaro
Date: June 23, 2013

“Vampire” by The Trax (Japanese Rock) –

philippines

In the previous episode of Dragon Ash…

We open up to Bakumatsu era of Japan where the assassin Kawakami Gensai cuts down influential politician Sakuma Shozan. Without provocation or a given reason, Gensai steals a scroll that’s tucked in Shozan’s robe. Unbeknownst to Gensai, that simple act of theft will eventually bring a world of trouble upon his descendants.

This brings us to Tien Kaze. Our rebellious teen hero who gets kicked out of school for standing up for a girl who was being molested on the back of the bus. As if he didn’t already feel isolated and obscured by his peers and religious congregation, things escalate when his father jumps the gun and tries to ban Tien from seeing his grandfather, the accused source of his misbehavior. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back, as Tien does the unthinkable. In the heat of the argument, Tien ends up throwing a regretful punch, flashing an ounce of the anger he’s held back for so long. But the disappointment written on his parent’s faces are too much to bear. Tien runs away from home.

In Episode 2…

We take a first-hand look at the so-called “expeditions” executed by the up and coming research and development company, Miro-Tech. In the Himalayas, Miro-Tech’s own private group of soldiers waste no time in seizing a remote village in pursuit of a pendant that is supposed to lead the way to one of Japan’s most sacred hidden treasures.

Amongst the main players, Silence, the femme fatale and majority shareholder of Miro-Tech shows multiple sides of herself. A brutish violent side towards anyone who stands in her way, a strong sense of superiority towards her race as a Japanese, yet a subtle sense of regret towards having to kill. Other than her protégé, Mellow, the only one who seems to understand her is her college lab partner and lead historian, the brilliant smartass Steven Alba. But even Alba can alleviate Silence’s voracious thirst for power. Even if Silence can’t already see that she has it.

Tien Kaze - Potentially staring Jay Kim of The Trax

Tien Kaze – Potentially staring Jay Kim of The Trax

Following up with the events in the states, Masatake Kaze comes home from a long overnight stocking shift at Home Depot to find his only grandson asleep on his couch. As you can probably guess from episode one, Tien’s bond with Masa is unbreakable. Tien opens up with how he’s felt for so long and makes up his mind that he wants to go to Japan, where he naively thinks that he’d be accepted. The two have a heart-to-heart conversation over a classic karate sparring match for old times sake and it ends with Tien finally convincing his grandfather that he isn’t just blowing smoke. His passion is real. His desire to visit the land of his ancestors is real.

So of course…Masa takes it one step further. Whilst packing a bag and giving Tien what little cash he had on him, Masa talks about a legendary school of swordsmanship. A family whose heirs and descendants have carried on with the school providing the best martial arts training exclusively to selected individuals from Japan’s elite class. These warriors range from the famous Minamoto Yoshitsune to the deadly Yagyu Jubei. A warrior trained by the Yagami family is said to equal the strength and speed of ten skilled samurai on the battlefield.

Over the centuries, the Yagami family has dwindled to damn near exile, but Masa knows where their only living descendents reside. Bound for Japan with a bus ticket and a plan to work as a sailor, Tien is filled with renewed vigor and excitement. Finally furnished with an attainable goal and instilled with a fulfilling sense of purpose, Tien grins…determined to find the Yagyu family and learn this so-called exclusive martial art.

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Top ten common lies that people say everyday…lol….

Posted by Rock Kitaro on June 21, 2013
Posted in: Memes. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

I confess, I’m guilty of a few. Thanks Memebase.com

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Old School Romance in Philippe Park – Short Story, narrative fiction

Posted by Rock Kitaro on May 27, 2013
Posted in: Original Stories. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

By: Rock Kitaro
Date: May 27th, 2013

Mariah Carey – “Always Be My Baby” –

Philippe Park

 The following is a narrative fictional piece based on factual events.

…

I’d never been there before. To Philippe Park. I was invited by a colleague to attend his church’s barbecue in celebration of Memorial Day. I admit that I was reluctant at first. Not due to the religion or the fact that it was going to be held at noon when I’m usually a night owl…but because of my agoraphobia. While I accept that I do have a slight case of agoraphobia, I told myself that I wouldn’t let it hold me back from such experiences. So I went.

It was a beautiful day around noon that day. The sun was up but the heat was still manageable. There was a cool breeze rustling through my white cotton button up shirt. The sky could’ve been better. The clouds seemed smeared not painted, but the distinction between the blue sky and the white clouds were distinct, so I enjoyed it nonetheless.

The National park lay on the banks of the western waters of Safety Harbor, a northern extension of Tampa Bay. While the saltwater and the rare sightings of manatees were certainly a worthy attraction of the park…in my opinion the highlight and most noticeable feature of the park are its majestic Spanish moss trees. I’m a history buff, you see…Pulling up to the parking lot and taking a look around, I could tell from the winding serpent branches that stretched out in all directions that they’ve been around for generations. It’s weird…I love historical landmarks when it comes to nature, but feel quite the opposite when it comes to manmade landmarks…like when it comes to buildings, I prefer newer constructions over the older.

Greeting my colleague and his wife at the barbecue made me laugh on the inside. When I walked up to them, already in the line for grilled burgers and hot dogs, they seemed surprised. I told them that I would be coming, but I suppose they just weren’t expecting me to show up one way or the other.  Still… they embraced me and introduced me to a few bystanders within proximity whose curiosity I had peaked.

Agoraphobia…I hate that it has the suffix of phobia because I’m not afraid. Just nervous and anxious. Being that I’m well over six feet tall and at one point used to be borderline obese, I still carry the paranoia that I’m always being watched. From a spectator’s point of view, my condition is similar to a formerly abused dog in a new surrounding. My voice shuttered and I struggled to release the words that I was trying to say. As I reached for the hot dogs and hamburgers, my hands and fingers rattled as if I had Parkinson’s. Not fear… It didn’t look cute and I didn’t feel special because of it. It annoyed the hell out of me, and I had to suppress the frustrations I had with myself. But the sensation didn’t last long, thank god. Once I got myself situated, seated and relatively out of the open…I could calm down. I could focus on being sociable.

Being that it was a church function, I felt obligated to inquire into the group’s religion, their beliefs and how they came to find their way to that particular organization. My colleague caught me twice staring off in deep thought. I’m still working on handling my facial expressions because I have large eyes and it’s easy to read my mood. I didn’t mean to be rude or draw in curiosity from my perplexed look, but rather, I find it’s important to digest such information on the spot so I can ask more questions while I still have the people there in front of me.

In the end, the group won me over and I had made up my mind to check out their next service. Not sure what to expect really. But I am a religious person. And more so, I’m a philosopher. What philosopher would turn down an open invitation to learn a new system of thinking, a new theology…I can’t wait.

After sitting with my hosts for a little over half an hour, the inner child in me compelled me to get up and walk around. Such a beautiful place…People get on airplanes and travel all over the world in search for adventure. The amazing thing about Florida is that there are so many untapped places for me to explore. So explore I did.

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Bleeding Hearts – A Random Thought from A Man Who Broods

Posted by Rock Kitaro on May 26, 2013
Posted in: Food for Thought. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

By Rock Kitaro
Date: May 26, 2013

brokenheartwbandaid

Bleeding Heart – An informal label applied to someone regarded as excessively sympathetic, of having sympathetic without warrant.

I have a lot of female cousins on my mom’s side of the family. I have all brothers, but a lot of female cousins. Growing up with my brothers…I didn’t hear condescending underhanded remarks. With us boys, we openly dissed each other in good fun. We called each other names and talked shit well until we’re rolling in laughter or coming close to blows…but hardly any condescending insults masked as blunt unbiased and indifferent statements.

One of the things I heard a lot growing up…usually from females… “It’s not that big of a deal.”

Now this…is probably one of the dumbest things you can say to someone who looks like they’re going through hard time. It’s almost as bad as telling someone you’ve outright offended, that you’re “sorry they feel that way.”

If someone is worked up about something. Or if something is obviously weighing heavily on the person’s mind. For you to tell them, that it’s not that big of a deal is incredibly obnoxious and inconsiderate. While it may not be a big deal to you, it’s apparently a big deal to them. I mean…it’s written on their faces for craps sake. The lack of insight isn’t intentional, I’m sure.

That’s why I don’t get angry when I hear such statements, but rather just look at them perplexed, silently thinking to myself, “how could you say that? You must not know the whole situation? And even if you think you do, you obviously don’t understand, or lack the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes. In which case, the shortcomings are your own.”

To get to the point of what I’m trying to say… I have a problem with carrying too much. You know how there’s the term “unrequited love” referring to how you’re in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same way about you. Well, the story of my life revolves around caring about people who could careless that I care, or people with a pocket full of fucks who just couldn’t give one to me.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been this way. About animals, about the homeless, about orphans, about people I didn’t even know. When I was 9-years-old and learned about the Battle of the Alamo, turns out that I have a ridiculous amount of care of people who aren’t even alive anymore. Don’t even get me started about slavery and the Jews in the Holocaust. Or that notorious incident in Nanjing that they neglected to teach me in public school.

For those thinking I’m sensitive or soft, let me tell you, I brood…I don’t grieve. I brood. Brooding is to think about something, often in a dark or melancholy manner. I have this um…This narcissistic belief, that no matter what…there’s always something we can do. The idea of simply accepting things as just the way they are…yeah…hahaha…not in my world. Not in the one life that I’ve been given.

And the questions I would hear in my head from my doubters when I give that declaration are usually: “Well, Rock. What do you want to do about it? What do you think you can do? Who do you think you are? You can’t control everything.”

The people who ask me those questions are completely missing the fucking point. The real question they should be asking is why do I care at all. And even if they did ask, the answer I’d give them wouldn’t satisfy them. Because the honest truth is that I just don’t know. I kills me how much I care without knowing why I care. I think its because I have this great love for human beings. But at the same time, I have a cynical view about the majority of the general public. So what gives…

Hahaha! I could go into a theory about when I look into the mirror, I don’t just see one of me, but I see five of me…but that’s for another topic.

If you’re a bleeding heart…or if someone’s giving you crap for caring too much or having too much sympathy for another or others. I tell you, that I know it hurts. It’s unpleasant, and its even worse when you’re slighted aren’t for this quality. But that’s all right. Just learn to hide how much you care and know when to share it. That bleeding heart is passion. Passion leads to motivation. Motivation leads to accomplishment. Accomplishment…just isn’t something garden variety motherfuckers can lay claim to.

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The Boy who got killed on Corona Ave. – A Stand Alone Short Story

Posted by Rock Kitaro on May 20, 2013
Posted in: Original Stories. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

By Rock Kitaro
Date: May 13, 2013

Big Bang – “Stay” –

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            The following work is completely fictional. Some spelling is incorrect intentionally for flavor.

“…I’m sorry what?”

“English, motherfucker! Do you speak it!” Said another officer before laughing his ass off and wandering down the hall.

“…Royes…” Det. James mumbled as a double-stream of smoke blew out of his nose. “I apologize on his behalf. The graveyard shift on a Tuesday night is boring for all the uni’s.”

I rolled my head and batted my eyelashes. My head was bangin from two white Russians and rum and these pigs was asking me every damn question in the book.

“Mmmhmm…Whatever muthafucker. Go ahead on… talkin about the graveyard duty. I got a double shift at Home Depo in four hours!” I wasn’t yelling at him. Just stessin ma point.

“Then, what were you doin at a bar on Corona Avenue?” James asked.

“That’s my business, you pale face motherfuckuh. Don’t worry about it!”

“You’re right. That is your business. So I won’t worry about it. Instead, I’ll handle mine. All right? And my business is all about figuring out what the fuck happened at the Smooth Umbrella at around 10:30pm on a goddamn weeknight.”

“So why are you asking me!?” I shouted, raising my voice to match his.

“Because you literally puked all over the hood of my Buick!” He said, squinting his eyes and moving his chair closer.

“What? You wanna a special certificate? You want a cookie for being dragged down here? You’re an adult, princess. Get your shit together and answer my goddamn questions! And let me tell you. You better drop the attitude before I run an intoxilyzer on ya ass. Toss a DUI in your lap. Yeah! Believe me, princess. That shits hard to get off your record. Mugshots all over the goddamn internet. Good luck picking up a guy who Google searches ya ass. Try me.”

Detective Patrick James. I saw from his badge that he was a senior officer and from the way he switched it up on me, I can see why. Caucasian, but he could talk like a nigga if he wanted to. Didn’t blame him. In fact, I respected it. I don’t like talking to cops or suits but James got raw on me all the sudden. Made me smile. But if he ain’t stop waving that muthafuckin pen all up in my face, they might had to be somethin.

“Tell me what happened, Michelle. Start from the beginning, alright. Tell me what you saw.” James said as he moved a Dixie cup of coffee my way.

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An Attack on the Hand-Me-Down Statements that you heard growing up.

Posted by Rock Kitaro on May 12, 2013
Posted in: Food for Thought. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

By Rock Kitaro

Date: May 8, 2013

“Stress” by Justice – Just some thinking music –

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Caution: The following rant contains curse words and piercing ideas that will more than likely enter your subconscious and flip over table. Read at your own discretion.
ALSO, I’d like to point out that as I grow, I’m open to the fact that my opinions will probably change or extend themselves. But I still want to post them, kind of like marking my progress of thought.

More and more, I’m beginning to get the sense that my entire career as a story teller will be dedicated to tearing down the walls of hand-me-down statements you heard growing up. Those statements adults and older teens spit at you that sounded wise and mature. As if to contest them in any way would make you sound immature, childish and full of spite.

Aigoo…

What’s a hand-me-down statement? Here are some hand-me-down statements. When I read them, for some reason, I hear the voice of some stuck up self-righteous babysitter spitting them out to me…Everytime, it’s the darnest thing.

            “Two wrongs don’t make it right!”

            “Girls are more mature than boys!”

            “You shouldn’t care about what others think!”

            “Sticks and stones may break my bones…”

            “Family will always be there!”

            “You can’t pick and choose your family!”

            “You’re not the only one in the world going through this!”

…I could go on for hours…

…Two wrongs don’t make it right…Yes it does.

If someone goes out and kills someone. They’ll be caught. Locked up. And either spend the rest of their life in prison or executed. But isn’t holding someone against their will…wrong? Isn’t execution, the act of killing someone, wrong? But the killer did something wrong. And we mask that second “wrong” as punishment. Making it…all right?

I digress…

In this world, there are these bastards…the assholes and bitches who need “problems” in their lives in order to feel like they’re living life. I’ve heard the idea before, but out of my love for the greater humanity, I refused to believe it. I thought to myself… “Who would actually want that kind of stress? Like, actually welcome it?”

The individuals I’m talking about are the ones who if they were tossed in a world where everyone treated them with respect, loved and cherished them, showed them nothing but kindness and generosity…THEIR MINDS WOULD EXPLODE! They need that conflict. And worst!!!! They don’t want to do anything about that conflict besides bitch about it!

And my dumbass actually listens to them. I actually take in what they’re saying, like a naïve little boyscout. I commiserate with them. And I don’t just say, “I’m sorry you’re going through that.” Instead, I actually put forth an effort to come up with a solution to their problems.

wickedwitchmelting

SOLUTIONS?

NO!!!!!

Solutions to these people are like the water to the Wicked Witch of the East…or West. Whichever one that melts.

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Writing about Fictional Crimes against Humanity

Posted by Rock Kitaro on May 6, 2013
Posted in: Food for Thought. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

hhahand of friendship

It’s always a heavy thing for me to write about a terrible incident that’s purely fictional, yet realistic.

I worry about those who may use my inventions as a blue print to carry out those incidents. Much like the movie “The Raven.” Should I not write them? It would be a bit hypocritical of me, I think. Once upon a time, I scoffed at rappers who brushed off responsibility when young kids idolized their ghetto mentality. If the day comes…I won’t brush off the responsibility. My conscience will be crushed, but I’ll continue to write regardless. If you were to ask me why, fully aware of the consequences…I’d tell you its because its worth the risk for a good story.

The Meaning Behind “Dragon Ash” – My exploration of Jpop and Kpop

Posted by Rock Kitaro on March 31, 2013
Posted in: About the Author, Original Stories. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The Meaning Behind “Dragon Ash” – My exploration of Jpop and Kpop
By Rock Kitaro
Date: March 26, 2013

Dragon Ash

Dragon Ash

“Be Stronger, Fly Higher, Don’t Be Afraid”

Those are the opening lyrics to Dragon Ash’s “Underage Song,” a song dedicated to the youth, inspiring them to strive no matter what.

I’m currently in the midst of writing the second episode of one of my short stories. The “Dragon Ash” series I’ve created is named after my favorite band. Not my favorite Japanese band. Not my favorite rock band. But favorite band, period. And out of respect and overwhelming gratitude, I felt it was high-time I explained myself. If by reading the end of this memoir, members of Dragon Ash thinks I should change the title of my story, I will.

Let me take you back to the end of 2004. In the midst of my senior year of high school something was happening to me. I think the last English CD I bought was Slipknot’s “Vol. 3 Subliminal Verses.” After that, I confess that I couldn’t help but to simply download my music. But the music I took an interest in downloading wasn’t American made songs. My dormant rebellious nature kicked it up a notch and I think I just got fed up with English lyrics. I think after 18 years of life, I got tired of hearing the same lyrics over and over again. I felt that I had heard every possible way that an artist could overextend “why” or say “I love you”. Not to mention, the kind of music that was clouding the airwaves during this time was just…just terrible. And so…I moved away from American music for a brief period of time.

Using filesharing sites like limewire, I began with downloading instrumentals. Music from anime, video games like Need for Speed and background music from movies like Daredevil and Vin Diesel’s XXX. My friends back then understandably thought it was puzzling, as did I for a time. But then I found a similarity between those instrumentals and metal, another genre I discovered a liking for at the time.

With some metal songs from artists like System of a Down and Slipknot, until I looked up the lyrics, other than the main chorus I had no idea what they were saying. And on a subconscious level, I think I preferred it that way. I couldn’t articulate “why” back then, but I think I was tired of lyrics dictating to me what to think, how I should feel and how I should go about situations. When I listen to music, I want to simply feel good. And 2004’s mainstream music kind of made me feel shitty because I wasn’t and still don’t, feel like I’m part of the mainstream.

Giving you this background information was crucial to help you understand how I was able to transition into what happens next because something spectacular happened.

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