Happy Birthday, Leonard!

[Hanna]

Happy Birthday Leonard!

[calypso]

I wish you a very happy birthday Leonard, thank you for the music, the wonderfull concerts and the new album.

[Gitte]

DEAR DEAR Leonard Cohen,
I bring you wherever I go, your voice, your lyrics and your music.
You are such a wise man and we can all learn so much from you.
Thank you from all my heart, you have given me some of the most wonderful moment in my life. I can just repeat Lou Reed: I am so happy to be in life at the same time as you.
Hope to see you soon, it would be fantastic if you would hit the road again.
I wish you a very happy birtday and all the best for the future.
Thank you so much for the new album, I'm so grateful.
With love and my deepest respect,
Gitte

[lizzytysh]

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.


-- Jelaluddin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks

Dear Leonard ~

With deep understanding, you are the embodiment of this ancient, ecstatic poem.

Thank you for sharing the guest list of your life.
Honouring each in your poems, novels, and songs, your own openness, insight, and wisdom have helped us all.

Your sharing has been an integral part of my own joy and coping, Leonard.

May this day, as every other day, be one of simple gifts, pleasure, and gratitude for you.
May your days and years be many... and may they all be filled with blessings.

To the 80th power, thank you and Happy Birthday, Leonard.


Much love, now and evermore,
Elizabeth / Lizzy


21 September 2014

[Suemerlyn]

Adding my greetings, happy birthday wishes and huge love to all the wonderful messages here. Hope your day is/was a peaceful and joyous occasion - and I have two big things to say:
thank you for inspiring me, all those years ago, to go live on Hydra for a year and a half with my then 4 year old son - wonderful island, donkeys n all. I can't listen to Who by Fire but I see that film shown on British tv - my inspiration - of you walking across the port and the agora and heading for what we called donkeyshit lane (dunno what you called it, earlier than me - those steps up to four corners...)
And - if you want a cigarette on your 80th - or a pack of cigs, go for it, Leonard. You're old enough to make up your own mind (as I do.)
Thank you from my heart for all the songs over all the years, and for the beauty in your soul. A crack there is in everything.
Sue x

[bigdee]

Happy Birthday Leonard! Hope your special day is filled with happiness!!

[hereandnow]

Dear Leonard!

I wish you a very happy Birthday! And since number 80 reminds us of Infinity, I thank you for the immeasurable treasure and blessing of your songs, poetry, prose and concerts. You've opened the infinite dimension of goodness in my life and I can't thank you enough. Without your Art my life would be but a shadow of what it is.

So I wish you Infinite Happiness, Blessings, Health and Well-Being!


With Love, Peace and Respect,
Alex.

[isolde]

.
---------- welcome to a new decade !

.......................... may all your wishes come true

... isolde / the real one

[fentiger]

Dear Leonard

May all your wishes come true!

Karen

PS I would upload the images I've drawn if I could work out how to do it! The will and heart is there but my technological skills fail me!

[lonndubh]

Happy Birthday Leonard and thank you for the music......

[Sheila]

Happy 80th birthday, dear Leonard. Thank you for enriching my life, and the lives of so many others, with your music and poetry. It has been a glorious journey.

Love, Sheila

[Springheeljack]

Happy 80th birthday Leonard!

What a great way to celebrate with a new album!

You are the most amazing, awe inspiring person I have ever known!

Jimmy

[chaplainmom]

Happy Birthday, dear Leonard, and many thanks!

Love, Mary

[Tchocolatl]

I see that we can post twice. I was surprised to see this, but thinking about it, such a veneration deserves at least two posts. Or any. As any could fit the good measure.

So please, Mr. Cohen, accept my Snoopy Joy Dance in gratitude for all the energy that you bring in my life.

[Cilbo]

Dear Leonard
Since listening to your music at university in the 70s I have continued to be uplifted, inspired, calmed and comforted.
I have been so lucky to have seen you at lots of wonderful concerts, and I have especially happy memories of the great concerts in the lovely city of Ghent.
Looking forward to buying the new CD!
Happy birthday Leonard!
Cilla