Exophony
Janvier
regarde
cette terre blanchie
somnole
écoute
son silence serein
t’appelle
un rêve en commun
si pur
un sommeil
si doux
c’est un calme profond
où gisent des mots
chacun a fait son nid
et respire
guerriers au repos
allongés
sur ce tapis de glace
ils te racontent
chaque vol
les instants
écoulés
d’antan
des parcours difficiles
à présent
unis
par ces moments figés
ce havre les berce
pourtant
regarde
ce lent réveil
écoute
ce tendre bruit
mes mots t’appellent
de cette terre blanchie
The poem, Janvier, is part of a collection [Mois-sons – notice the play on words around ‘months’ and ‘sounds’, as well as the French word ‘moisson’ meaning ‘a harvest’], written twenty years ago, celebrating each month of the calendar year. Its author is exophonic, choosing to write in French.
S/he is not alone amongst such exponents of writing in a non-mother tongue: Nabokov (Russian) wrote in English; Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski (Polish); Samuel Beckett (Irish); Eugène Ionesco (Romanian) all wrote in French.
Exophonic writers come to their work and approach the foreign language for several reasons and with sensitivity respectively, with various levels of comfort and ambivalence. Theirs is an extraordinary talent, which can resonate with those aspiring to bilingualism.
Maybe the language(s) we embrace the most is/are the one(s) that embrace us. We, therefore, express something more compelling and with greater passion. A foreign language can speak to us in singular ways, allowing us to inject more meaning into our thoughts, to enrich the text lexically, or to present a different rhetorical style.
Back to the poem Janvier; the poet has had to think outside of her/his usual pattern, which can lead to enhanced creativity. There is a more nuanced and complex writing style; s/he is more deliberate and sophisticated in the use of language, syntax, and structure. Development and refinement abound, particularly with regard to emotions and the world of the senses (regarde/écoute).
New ideas, perspectives, and approaches to writing break forth. Furthermore, we commence a journey of personal growth and self-discovery, one during which we confront our biases, assumptions, and limitations.
Without doubt, exophony has a positive impact on our cognitive function and brain plasticity in terms of language, memory, attention, and creativity (application of grammar/syntax/lexis).
Does an other (deliberate word-spacing) language dwell within each of us, particularly poetically?
Fun bite
A word of warning and why correct pronunciation is advised/vital
Où est la guerre ? will not help you find the train station in France!
