The Tough Guy in His Star Trek Uniform...

[Coco]

Hi Lizzy and tom,

I am so relieved. I knew that I had seen "color" somewhere! The strange thing was when I went back and looked over the self-portraits (after Lizzy told me there was no color that she could see) I did not see any "yellow" color anywere on any of the portraits. So Lizzy, maybe there is something wrong with our color perception.

The "tough guy" message is intriguing. Perhaps it was just an expression of momentary irritation with his writing and his critics. Perhaps an expression of "What's it all about, anymore". "Have I come to the closing time of my life and is this all there is?" "I'm leaving this scene (poetry) behind."

So many possibilities and interpretations here. Where do we begin?

[lizzytysh]

Exactly, Coco ~ does the colour fade from our eyes ? Yes, exactly, on the multitude of possible interpretations of Leonard's self-portrait and aside.

[Tchocolatl]

It looks exactly like the same-never-the-same Leonard Cohen to me.

Now you can say that I've grown bitter.

[witty_owl]

After a brief study of the drawing my gut response is this; the portrait says- this is all getting too weird, I am spaced out. I used to be the tough guy with this song writing business but now? Perhaps it is time for this old guy to hang up his guitar and pen. Live a bit without being the witness scribe while there is still breath.

????????????

I am probably very wrong but there it is. A gut reaction not a detailed analysis.

Regards Witty Owl.

[George.Wright]

It could be tongue in cheek but i suspect that he knows the time is coming soon for him to be beamed up.
Georges

[Linda]

While listening to In My Secret Life his self portrait came to mind. He no longer is saying. "I smile when I am angry." He is fed up with all that goes on this planet and has on his star trek uniform, waiting for Scotty to beam him up to the Star ship.

I hope he has book ready soon to answer our questions.

[lizzytysh]

I am loathe to consider the idea of Leonard's death. However, with all the euphemisms for death being used, I would like to say if Leonard were to die any time soon, or within the next two, three, four, five years, or whatever, that this would not be an unnatural occurrence ~ nor would it mean that this was his point with his Father's Day message. His is a common age for this final outcome to our lives to begin happening. It is also a most natural time for a person to begin considering this reality with very serious perspective. He has included it in Ten New Songs. It's real.

However, to suggest that this self-portrait and aside are encrypted messages to us that this time is [relatively soon] at hand, with his own foreknowledge, I think is not the point of these two things. I can't say for certain [as I'm not Leonard ] what the point is, and I've already offered my guess. I liked the suggestion of Linda's that this is how he felt when he looked in the mirror one morning ~ on Mt. Baldy, he looked in the mirror and wrote a poem that suggested were he to die right then, all would be well. I think he is accepting, as much as anyone can be, of his inability to avoid death. However, I don't believe we are getting one, or the beginning of a series of, death messages from him. I can also see [per Linda again] that he might be expressing some consternation with the way things are in this world. He's certainly not putting on a "pretty face" for anyone with it.

[If I'm in denial with any of this, just leave me there ~ the reality will come and strike all too soon, no matter when he dies.]

~ Elizabeth

P.S. The phrase "beam me up, Scotty" has been used by at least one person in the Chatroom [prior to the Father's Day greeting], as they were leaving and going to Disconnect. It's also a phrase that has been used over the years in a lot of different situations unrelated to death.

[Linda]

I look at it in a more light hearted fashion, also. I don't think he is referring to his death at all. I think we have all had a "beam me up Scotty" feeling at some time or another.

[Byron]

Linda, many, many years ago, when I was a young lawyer making my way in the world, I happened to be in Number 1 Court, in The Crown Court building in St George's Hall in Liverpool. I sat and watched a witness being slowly and expertly taken to pieces by some very clever cross examination by a prosecution barrister. Eventually the witness, who seemed to shrivel in size, as the questioning went on, slowly turned to face the judge and as he looked up to the bewigged judge, he shouted out for all the building to hear, "Beam me up Scotty!".
On another occasion, I was in the magistrates' court and saw a policeman being questioned by a defence solicitor, who was trying to establish just how far the policeman could have seen, on the night of the arrest. "Tell me officer, was it dark on that night?". "Yes sir," replied the officer. "Well then officer, perhaps you could tell the court how far you could see in the dark," said the defence solicitor. "As far as the Moon," replied the officer, who was later disciplined by the Chief Constable. True!

[Aavalanche]

Surely he has had enough of the disgusting state of this world-

may the lights in the land of plenty-- etc.

Probably if he checks in on the forums, he is also fed up with a lot of the garbage that passes for dialogue under his name, fuelled by--. And we know who they are!
If the cap fits?

When I am not this hunchback that you see, I sleep beneath the golden hill.

[Tchocolatl]

Time to take a little nap, Aavalanche?

Took my diamond to the pawnshop -
But that don't make it junk.

[Linda]

I like that officers frame of mind.

[Aavalanche]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Tchocolatl]

Aavalanche : Second price Best Laugh.

Right after the Maria Callas Affair (First price Best Laugh to Lizzytish)!!

[Paula]

The Maria Callas thread is my all time favourite and I am not sure anyone can top that It kept me amused for days.