leonardcohenforum.com

Midnight, there are many people who visit here who have a limited knowledge of Leonard's work. Some may only just have discovered him, others may be more interested in one field than another. Indeed, if it is necessary to be familiar with everything Leonard has written in order to qualify as a 'fan', then it will be some years yet before I can aspire to such dizzy heights The early volumes of poetry, particularly 'Let Us Compare Mythologies', are now rare and somewhat expensive items. Nevertheless, having seen as a result of Lightning's halloween 'trick' the quality of poetry they offer, I may just have to see if I can 'treat' myself to an early Christmas present

Also interesting that this poem opened in French "Ou sont les jeunes?" ( Where are the kids?) as if the little boys (and girls?) who burned frogs had to be French Canadians. Frogs legs are a delicacy in French cuisine and the French were called "Frogs" as a racist slur. English speaking Jewish boys would never do a thing like that, would they?

Midnight ~

You may want to come out of the blinding light of infatuation for just a moment, to realize that a particular person is quite unaware that Leonard has even covered anyone, and had one of the very songs , with the directly-stated attributing and thanking , in her possession at one point! Likewise, the length of time that she's been listening to Leonard is not particularly lengthy! She would have been the FIRST to have immediately nailed it to time, place, book, etc. to make glaringly clear her superior knowledge to the underling dolts who missed it. Make no mistake about that. What happened to work in her favour was the nebulous nature of her reply. However, the exclamation and question marks, accompanying the phrase "!What the Hell???!!!" to a poem with such obvious shock value begs you to use a tad of common sense here. A little common sense never hurt anybody. Meanwhile, a big "Whew!" can be heard across these pages. Nebulousity ain't always bad, either .

My own orientation is through his music. I by no means have everything he has written ~ early, late, or otherwise. I have some things that he has written, that I have yet to read. I don't feel the least bit apologetic about this fact, nor about not having recognized, or being able to recognize this as having been one of his. The "and said prayers and made laments" struck me and was very recognizably Leonard-like, but for anyone who admires Leonard, as Lightning indicated "this writer" did, similar phrasing would not be at all unusual. I have never and will never proclaim to be a Leonard Cohen "expert." Neither have I ever claimed to know every word to every song, and from which every phrase originates. All I will tell you is that he has been a major force in my life;I love his voice, his singing, his music, and his writing; and he affects me more intensely than any other. This poem is no exception in its intensity and impact.

Yes, Lightning, I wish it could have gone on longer, too. As Helven said, the "unprejudiced opinion"s would have all ended up priceless. Love your sense of humour, though .

~ Elizabeth

oh wouldn't they? there's an episode about killing a frog in the favourite game which could have been taken from an adolescent experience.

sorry lightning for stepping in so soon, i thought you were trying to catch us out

actually,it would be unfair to expect everyone here to know or even have access to most of leonard's early work, as it is mostly out of print. i have only become aware of him in recent years through his songs, and over a year or two made an effort to get all the books i could

some of his writing is definately on the dark side, which complexity makes him all the more interesting

oh dear, my post has appeared out of synch lizzy, you beat me to the submit button

Linmag,
O.K. Point taken. I just assumed that people on this forum would be familiar with his poetry as well as his songs. His early stuff especially. I think more highly of most of it than I do his later efforts.

Lizzytysh, I really don't care about this power struggle you are having with Makera, except that it is annoying to see your (and Byron's) diatribes intrude in what could be interesting threads.

Whatever you feel it is that you're annoyed about, Midnight, is no more annoying than your blindness. I didn't post to please you, with regard to what you care about, either. Yet, there's more going on here than a paltry and inane "power struggle." In terms of what you consider "could be" interesting threads, please do contribute more to them, to keep them so, so that you won't be so easily dissuaded by what others contribute.

~ that's OK, Margaret ~ what Lightning was going for, Lightning definitely got, regardless ! Ahhh well. She can at least say that it was great while it lasted! I'd have to second that .

~ Lizzytysh

I still don't get it. What is it precisely that I'm blind to? Enlighten me. And what "is" going on between you and Makera if it isn't a power struggle?

A real answer please. Don't be so cryptic.

Don't be so cryptic ? You who thinks all should know every poem, and cannot simply accept that NO ONE here knew ~ until Margaret ~ that this was a poem of Leonard's. You even missed the nebulousity of the reply that again relied on nebulosity to "take credit" for having "known." Yet, you will continue to defend the undefendable, whilst accusing others of power struggles. If it comes to "explaining" the obvious, I will be detailed and return all the way to the beginning. I don't know if you or anyone is prepared or desirous of a posting of that length and nature. It would be far grander for the inappropos pedestals to simply be abandoned. I've, in fact, seen what appears to be evidence of such activity.

Chill.

That's all I'm asking you to do. When Makera posts something that makes you blow a gasket, just ignore it. Don't bring your animosity into all the threads. That's not asking too much is it?

No gaskets are blown, Midnight. Gaskets are intact. Much has been left alone by me. Some things command attention, for whatever reason ~ this thread was one. I ignore what I choose and address what I choose. The current prank is pretending to have known .

Excellent observations and details, Lightning and Margaret. I noted them over on the Analysis thread, and decided I might as well mention them here !

~ Elizabeth

OK, let's clear up the crap, and the gratuitous assumptions once and for all. No, I did not know for sure it was a Leonard Cohen poem; But yes, I suspected something was fishy by the fact that it was a Halloween-style 'prank' (the posting), plus the fact that the content was surreal enough, with allusions to esoteric, little-known rituals, to be: (a) A poem by LC, or (b) a partly plagiarized version.
I actually suspected (b).
Since I had no wish to accuse anyone of that without actual knowledge. I therefore offered the 'benefit of the doubt' option with the edit (a few minutes later) of '..a joke, right?'. So, I was not taking credit for 'knowing' it was a poem by LC, but only for recognizing a trick was being played. That was the intention was it not? I certainly 'got that'!
Why would I spoil the fun on a mere suspicion? Why do some think I'm a 'party pooper', I wonder....

Truth & Light,

~Makera

Ha...I liked this prank and Makera...I like your honesty.

Thank you, Kush. You are a true gentleman, with intelligence and integrity.

~Makera