leonardcohenforum.com

Hi Lizzy.. I'm loving your ideas... I have much to consider now.. and yes, the slices of moon mention.. (so perfectly put Cate)...

a well spritzed v i o l e t (flower)

Thanks, Violet .

[I've just added a thought regarding the balcony idea ... before I read this post of yours. Still... the sonnet oughta fit nicely sideways, going up each rail of the balcony. Or, perhaps, one on which I stood in Montreal, where the railing was solid glass to the floor of it ... looking down another matter, feeling quite unprotected or contained, that would make a nice space for etching it... then, sitting in chairs, it would be at eye level for reading, rereading, reflection, or leaving the r's behind, discussion. Could choose to repeat it, or not repeat it and just leave it as "statement wallpaper."]

Violet wrote: Oh, and Jack.. you now have to come up with something for that enclosed porch... there's not a lot of wall surface, but enough to be entertaining methinks, as we relax in the coolness of the screened in porch (a respite from the relentless heat of this coming summer), while sipping our iced mint juleps...

Since your room seems mostly filled with women I think I should give you something from my feminine side. My feminine side speaks french which I speak so very little of but someone is paying me lately to say a few words in french and some of those words include "Venday vous les cigarettes" and so you can use that for your porch. I would have been learning more but am only lately coming to grips with finding out that my feminine side is such a material girl. She will learn anything if she gets paid enough.

I also know how to say "would you like something to eat or drink?" but only know how to say it in french and not how it is spelled in french. If you are ever around and you like the way I say it - well maybe you could sit on it.

I might be busy for a spell learning my mother's language so don't take offense if i am not around for tea.

Cate may know how to say that second line in French.. and just what would I be sitting on again??.. (are you being terribly naughty, Jack??.. and.. well.. not with your feminine side??).. (it would seem)..

femme v i o l e t t e
.. I like those lines for our screened in porch, actually, mon cher..
.. I'll see what I can do..

Jack.. since you're in your French phase it seems, I thought to set the mood a bit.. I'm sure we'll be listening to plenty of this singer's recordings as we sit in our screened in porch, drinking strong black coffee and -- oh, **ck it, make that Pino Noir -- and smoking our Gitannes, as we say disparaging things about most things, but mostly about people who are not French, like us.. and we'd be enjoying the lovely lettering on the walls.. which would be your text of course.. in a font style reminiscent of the Belle Epoch, I'm thinking.. (that Moulin Rougie look comes to mind).. although this would be a challenge to our imaginations, of course, given the limitations of this particular software (font-wise, I mean).. still, that's half the fun, mon cher.. and anyway, it gives us more to be disparaging about..

.. so, without further adieu (is that correct, Manna?)..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQMxnOEUyAM
FULL SCREEN..

un petite v i o l e t t e
(coughing a bit, since these Gitannes are a bit
rough on the throat)...

Violet wrote: adieu (is that correct, Manna?)..

It is the correct thing to say to a gentleman as he leaves you with some wonderful ladies having tea and pikelets to let him know that there will be a comfortable place for him to return to when or if he returns. You do seem to have a feel for atmosphere. I will give you a french song back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW67lm_AE54

I thought I could improve some of his lyrics with the following

Like the time they called me jackie

if we could be
for only a moment
but let that moment
be in every single day
if we could be
for that one single moment
cute cute cute
in a silly little way

.. wow, Jack.. uh.. Jacky.. that's a lot to take in in one little number.. I must admit, I'm new to Jacques Brel, but the name seems familiar... interesting to see in one performer the bizarre French infatuation with Jerry Lewis combined with the existential self contempt of Brando in Last Tango (only... don't know whether Tango was shot as yet.. but it must have been in the air.. the butter in the pantry, so to speak)..

.. some great lyrics, in any event.. "handsome handsome handsome.. and stupid at the same time".. And I'd venture you too would like to be enclosed by languishing women.. maybe not in our screened in porch.. but in that Chinese opium den Jacques keeps waxing poetic about.. hmm.. an opium den.. that's giving me some "idears"...

.. to be continued, I'm sure...

a languishing v i o l e t (fl
o
w e
r)

.. oh, wanted to mention your own verse.. which I liked.. it's sweeter, as in gentler.. maybe more in keeping with our tea and pikelets idea..

Violet wrote:Cate may know how to say that second line in French.. and just what would I be sitting on again??.. (are you being terribly naughty, Jack??.. and.. well.. not with your feminine side??).. (it would seem)..

My french is terrible Violet, although the last time I was is Quebec somebody did say that I spoke french very well - I suspect he was just being polite as he said it in English and continued in speaking to us in English. I think can I get you a drink is something like - vous aimes la boisson de moi.

Now Violet and Jack, since rooms are being handed out may I have the attic please. One with those little windows that jut out a bit and stairs that fold up and become part of the floor so that if you want to be alone nobody can find you. and I'd like wooden bookshelves filled with old books that smell slightly funky but have been well loved. The kind of books that fall open to the previous owners favourite passages and are filled with little notes made in ink.
Oh - I like a big oak writing desk like my dad had when I was a kid... and a heavy truck right in middle of the room so I can wonder what's in it but never open... and a brass bed covered with a quilt, single size so that whoever sleeps with me will have to stay close ... Violet, I don't think that I want wallpaper but could you make me another quilt to hang instead...
now, I already have an attic arrangement at somebody elses house so don't worry you won't hear me stomping around too much above you.


p.s. I remember when you posted that poem Jack, seems like so long ago now - I still like it.

Cate.. I rummaged through that old trunk and found this old poem of mine for the quilt.. I thought it complemented your attic room.. the old books.. sentiments... oh, and I realized that kisses can be sewn very nicely.. and hold the squares of verse together..

... see what you think... v i o l e t (flower) xxxx.. (actually, if you highlight the entire quilt, I think it looks much better)... (I guess that's comparable to lighting a candle up there, where there's no electric light)..


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
And still
I gather the past around me
like necessary friends,
when unspoken is the sentiment,
we’ll never like this
be together again.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
And still
I gather the past around me
like necessary friends,
when unspoken is the sentiment,
we’ll never like this
be together again.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
And still
I gather the past around me
like necessary friends,
when unspoken is the sentiment,
we’ll never like this
be together again.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

. . . and a heavy truck right in middle of the room so I can wonder what's in it but never open . . .

Cate ~

Would you prefer a MAC or a Ford F-150?


~ Lizzy
[suggesting heavy beams below]

- a ford lariat - black

I needed that laugh - Violets quilt as beautiful as it is really struck a cord with me.
I think that perhaps 'truck' was a freudian slip as I had was just thinking about my Dads desk and a poetry book of his, I think his truck that I loved to drive, slipped in there too.
(ohh about the slices of the moon - that was Jack who said that, he was describing the little cakes - if we're nice maybe he'll make them up for us)

Violet thank you for the beautifully worded coloured quilt. We'll never like this be together again ... this is sad but at the same time implies a warmth and a moment in time that was and shared and brought with it even greater happiness. (even so I still feel sad reading it)

... Cate, I'm sorry I made you so sad with that little verse of mine.. I promise, we'll do something later with the ratchet straps, that oughta' fix you right up, sweetie.. maybe we can use this new room I'm about to add to our ever expanding suite over here.. (Jack, maybe you need to change the name of this thread, I'm thinking... A Room with a Ratchet Strap?)...

Okay, well.. while I'm still contemplating some of the other room suggestions, the next room I thought should be another bedroom.. only, for those of us just a little on edge about too much domesticity, I thought it would be nice if we designed it more like a motel room.. a blue motel room, to be exact.. maybe with some sliding doors... to a pool outside...

... anyway.. this is to set the mood, followed by what the walls might look like..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-KbwLfAgbU
FULL SCREEN...

I’ve got a blue motel room
with a blue bedspread
I’ve got the blues inside and outside my head
Will you still love me
when I call you up when I'm down?
Here in savannah its pouring rain
Palm trees in the porch light like slick black cellophane
Will you still love me
when I call you up when I get back to town?
I know that you’ve got all those pretty girls coming 'round
hanging on your boom-boom-pachyderm
You just tell those girls that you've got German measles
honey, tell them you've got germs
I hope you’ll be thinking of me
because I'll be thinking of you
while I'm traveling home alone
Tell those girls that you've got joni
she’s coming back home

I've got road maps
from two dozen states
I've got coast to coast just to contemplate
Will you still love me
when I get back to town?
It's funny how these old feelings hang around
you think they're gone
no, no
they just go underground
Will you still love me
when I get back to L.A. town?
You and me, were like America and Russia
we're always keeping score
We're always balancing the power
and that can get to be a cold cold war
We're going to have to hold ourselves a peace talk
in some neutral cafe
You lay down your sneaking round the town, honey
and I'll lay down the highway

I’ve got a blue motel room
with a blue bedspread
I've got the blues inside and outside my head
Will you still love me
when I get back to town?

I’ve got a blue motel room
with a blue bedspread
I’ve got the blues inside and outside my head
Will you still love me
when I call you up when I'm down?
Here in savannah its pouring rain
Palm trees in the porch light like slick black cellophane
Will you still love me
when I call you up when I get back to town?
I know that you’ve got all those pretty girls coming 'round
hanging on your boom-boom-pachyderm
You just tell those girls that you've got German measles
honey, tell them you've got germs
I hope you’ll be thinking of me
because I'll be thinking of you
while I'm traveling home alone
Tell those girls that you've got joni
she’s coming back home

I've got road maps
from two dozen states
I've got coast to coast just to contemplate
Will you still love me
when I get back to town?
It's funny how these old feelings hang around
you think they're gone
no, no
they just go underground
Will you still love me
when I get back to L.A. town?
You and me, were like America and Russia
we're always keeping score
We're always balancing the power
and that can get to be a cold cold war
We're going to have to hold ourselves a peace talk
in some neutral cafe
You lay down your sneaking round the town, honey
and I'll lay down the highway

I’ve got a blue motel room
with a blue bedspread
I've got the blues inside and outside my head
Will you still love me
when I get back to town?

... I thought I'd add a little later commentary here.. I mean.. I kind of like the colors, I guess.. and ratchet straps are easily pleasing... but I fear that all I've done with this one is to reveal my sentimentality as concerns this particular Joni Mitchell song.. I mean.. I'm thinking this post lacks.. well, purpose, maybe.. poignance even.. anyway, I just thought I'd make a note of my disappointment with this one.. This whole thread actually, being in my mind experimental with regard to verse and place, is very much a crap shoot, I think (I thought Jack would like my saying that actually).. so I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself (there I go again... oy).. besides, as you'll see, Jack later complements me on my beautifully twisted mind, and that doesn't happen every day.. so.. I guess I should just calm down.. not every post can reach that extra special level of pleasing superciliousness I guess... anyway, just thought I'd make a note...

this bathroom with many rooms is coming along very nicely.

It's almost dark. We've had such a nice day here (Toronto), busy but the sun has been shining and feels like summer is close. Since we have an enclosed porch can we have a lake as well ... and Jack as you're good with your hands could you build us a dock, a nice wide one, so that we can all lie out on it under the stars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12PQYX1r7Bc

Cate wrote: and Jack as you're good with your hands could you build us a dock, a nice wide one, so that we can all lie out on it under the stars.

Lovely song. I like that there are two ways to leave a whale. I guess either way still puts you in the sun. Here is a dock that I happened to have handy.

When I am with Sue
I won't think of you
When we are sitting at the bar

When I am with Jim
It will be just him
While we are riding in my car

When you come in view
it will be just you
when we are reaching for a star

and You and You and You and You

.. Jack.. can you write a secret poem that's kept in this thread's refrigerator?..