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Have I told you lately how glad I am you came from the shadows, Joe ? You have added immensely to the discussions of Leonard, and his music and poetry, here . I studied neither lit nor poetry, and haven't read 'so much' of either, either. As I read these contributions by various people, I feel this urging to 'catch up' ~ but good G~d, where to begin!?! The classics? Canadian Lit? Ancient or modern, or post-modern poets/writers? Heeeeelp!!! People like you are just SO appreciated by people like me! I can learn from and appreciate from your own learning, observations, and insights.

Thank you.

~ Elizabeth

After listening to Allison Crowe's atypical usage of "Let It Be" as a Christmas 'carol' on Tidings, I take my cue from her. With "so many graves to fill," I adapt it as a thank you to Leonard for Dear Heather during these stressful times.

"When I find myself in times of trouble, my friend Leonard comes to me / speaking words of wisdom / let it be ~ and in my hour of darkness / he is standing right in front of me / speaking words of wisdom / let it be ~ let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be / whisper words of wisdom / let it be.

"When the broken-hearted people / living in the world agree / there will be an answer / let it be ~ though they may be parted / there is still a chance / that they will see / there will be no sorrow / let it be ~ let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be ~ there will be an answer / let it be ~ let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be ~ whisper words of wisdom / let it be.

"Though it may be cloudy / there is still a light that shines on me / shine until tomorrow, let it be / I wake up to the sound of music / my friend Leonard comes to me / speaking words of wisdom / let it be ~ let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be ~ whisper words of wisdom, let it be ~ let it be, let it be, let it be / there will be an answer / let it be. Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be / whisper words of wisdom ~ let it be.

From the bottom of my tearful heart, thank you, Leonard, for Dear Heather.

~ Elizabeth

Warm thanks to you also Joe. Now I have more material here, then I can manage for now. I'll come back with feed back on last entries of these days.

Take care, all of you

Tchocolatl, did I ever mention that I like your quotation from A Thousand Kisses Deep Who knows why...

Hi All again,

I have a few minutes to add some thoughts to the interesting responses to Rob regarding "Coming Back To You."

Rob, you might want to look at "Song of Songs" or "Song of Solomon" as it is sometimes called. It describes a symbolic wedding between king and a "black but comely" bride and who represents his fertile land and who's body is compared to parts of it. Compare this to Psalm 45 with the image of a bride who forsakes her homeland for another royal marriage. Then, there is the story of Ruth which most are familiar with-a humble young girl who forsakes her native land for her beloved. All of these are images intended to represent the relationship of G-d with His people.

Leonard's song, "Lover, Lover, Lover" is an excellent representation of this relationship as well with the voice of the narrator crying, "Lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me." This, I think, is meant to represent the voice of G-d and the seven repetitions are meant to evoke the image of turning the cheek seven times. It is implied that G-d courts his people and is not put off by being rebuffed continually.

In "Coming Back To You" the narrator starts out by saying he is, perhaps, too hurt to turn the other cheek (even though he still loves Him). The whole verse about "the factory" and "the fields" evoke the fertility theme that much like Eliot's "April is the cruelest month" plays with our notion of birth and regeneration and the apparently mortal and singular fate that we as individuals face when "the bills are due."

I've been told that in the Bible, the Greek word that has been translated as "repentance" (or in the admonition of John the Baptist) to reform your life is "metanoia." From what I gather this is a rather incomplete translation which suggests regret, penitence, a change in the course of one's actions that is backward looking. However, from what I can gather, metanoia represents "above the mind" or movement to a realm that is so consuming as to be best represented by that desire experienced only by lovers who will forsake all for their beloved.

When Leonard goes through the litany of backward looking imagery and reaches that crucial point where he sings, "Even though you bend to give me comfort in the night, I've got to have your word on this or none of it is true," it is one more rebuff of the beloved, until the final realization sinks in that "all I've said is just instead of coming back to you."

Now, I don't know if Leonard is using this as more than a literary device, but it is certainly in keeping with his tradition and the study of Isaiah and the Psalms that he did with his Grandfather. I don't mean to seem certain about all these things because I continue to discover new layers all the time and my only intention with these words is to, perhaps, increase the discussion about some things that it appears to me that Leonard worked very hard to convey. Although, he says his work speaks for itself, with his brilliant mind and background, it sometimes takes some work to figure it out.

Hope this helps.

Joe

P. S. Can't you just see him walking another mile in silence on Mt. Baldy contemplating all this!

"Another mile of silence" is the great line, and I always undestand it like there's a mile of silence between us, be it lovers, or every two human beings, but always, that another mile of silence we must pass. Yesterday I wondered why I didn't came with that title for the site (then I listened to A Thousand Kisses Deep; still the best choice:) - but it will be great title for some of the next projects. "Leonard Cohen: Another Mile of Silence". Of course, it can be literray seen as another mile of silence at Mt Baldy.

Joe,
Many thanks for your thought provoking post. I need to consider its content for a few days (or maybe a few years). Something that I never thought would happen here, I was inspired to blow off the dust of the Bible on my book shelf to aid my considerations....
Thanks again,
Rob.

Dear Rob,

Don't sweat too much over it since I'm probably way out in left field. The pleasure really comes from the context in which we begin to discover the music's impact on us. Though, for some of us, this includes a bit of "close" reading. To each his own.

Best regards,

Joe

Well, after all this time, I still haven't got a copy of Dear Heather. This absence pains me greatly. But such is life. I got my first paycheque for my new job yesterday, but I have to wait at least one more before I start spending on anything other than silly stuff like rent and heat.

Lizzytish, if you're looking to get into poetry, here's my tip: Go to your local library, or a larger one if your local is small. Go to the poetry section (should all be grouped together) and just start picking books off the shelves. Try books by author, glance at a poem or three, and if something grips you immediately somehow, put it aside, otherwise put it back. Do this for even half an hour and I'd be willing to bet that you'll find a few volumes full of words which you find strangely intriguing. Pore through them, letting stuff hit you as it will. Then, once you're found some stuff, you can start branching out -- read through anthologies in which works appear by poets you like. Read the introductions of their books and check out the poets they mention enjoying....

Anyhow, that's my suggestion. There's such a huge range of poetry out there that there has to be something that everyone will find gripping, whether you like rhyming odes to flowers or weird stream-of-consciousness-without-punctuation stuff

Take care
-Justin-