![\"20\"](\"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/20-e1421071259241.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A New Name for Newborns<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When I was born<\/span><\/p>\n my mother gave me a name I didn\u2019t choose<\/span><\/p>\n out of all the alphabets<\/span><\/p>\n and letters<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve carried it around nonstop<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve used it as my address my signature<\/span><\/p>\n it\u2019s even on my tomb<\/span><\/p>\n it\u2019s in the silence of photos people take of me<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But as of this morning<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve changed my name and address<\/span><\/p>\n From now on I\u2019m Charlie<\/span><\/p>\n from Charlie Street<\/span><\/p>\n like thousands of other men<\/span><\/p>\n and dogs<\/span><\/p>\n and women and cries<\/span><\/p>\n like Alpha Bravo<\/span><\/p>\n Charlie Delta Echo<\/span><\/p>\n Completely Charlie<\/span><\/p>\n Absolutely Charlie<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Because my cartridge belt\u2019s loaded<\/span><\/p>\n with pens and erasers<\/span><\/p>\n for drawing the world\u2019s laughter<\/span><\/p>\n that can never be wiped out<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And because I\u2019ve got nothing else<\/span><\/p>\n and because my mouth<\/span><\/p>\n bursts into slivers<\/span><\/p>\n like a pane of glass<\/span><\/p>\n in a pool of laughs<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But let\u2019s be clear<\/span><\/p>\n my new name doesn\u2019t yet appear<\/span><\/p>\n on infinity\u2019s joke calendar<\/span><\/p>\n So I call in the night<\/span><\/p>\n and I call on you<\/span><\/p>\n to add your saint too<\/span><\/p>\n to the list<\/span><\/p>\n of the names of light<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Because I know<\/span><\/p>\n that unknown names<\/span><\/p>\n are among us<\/span><\/p>\n here<\/span><\/p>\n very still in the silence<\/span><\/p>\n most of all the names of those<\/span><\/p>\n who cry on birthdays<\/span><\/p>\n and death-days<\/span><\/p>\n eyes scanning the skies<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Won\u2019t you<\/span><\/p>\n help me<\/span><\/p>\n I want Charlie added to the list<\/span><\/p>\n of human spirits<\/span><\/p>\n who laugh out of hope<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Help me<\/span><\/p>\n in this January sun<\/span><\/p>\n which is itself a laugh-reservoir<\/span><\/p>\n losing drop by drop<\/span><\/p>\n the absolute force of its given names<\/span><\/p>\n and cries<\/span><\/p>\n Today will be the feast of St. Charlie<\/span><\/p>\n even for someone like me<\/span><\/p>\n who doesn\u2019t believe in any heaven<\/span><\/p>\n hidden in the stars<\/span><\/p>\n since heaven\u2019s all around us<\/span><\/p>\n which is the kind of hope<\/span><\/p>\n that makes me laugh<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n January 9, 2015<\/span><\/p>\n (translated from the French by Dan Bellm<\/a>)\u00a0
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