4/3/1943

He said he was a handsome man and he came,
he came from the sea
he spoke another language,
but he knew how to love
and that day he took my mother
on a beautiful meadow
the sweetest hour before being killed

So she remained alone in the room,
the room by the port
with the only dress getting shorter every day
and although she didn't know the name
nor the country
she waited for me like a gift of love from the first month

My mother turned 16 that day
she sang tavern verses,
she sang them as lullabies
and holding me close, she smelled,
she smelled of the sea
she played at being a woman with a baby to swaddle

And maybe it was for fun or maybe for love
that she wanted to call me like our Lord
Of her short life, the biggest memory
is all in this name
that I carry with me

And even now when I play cards
and drink wine
for the people of the port
I'm called Baby Jesus
and even now when I play cards
and drink wine
for the people of the port
I'm called Baby Jesus
and even now when I play cards
and drink wine
for the people of the port
I'm called Baby Jesus