leonardcohenforum.com

I just did a search for a work document and came across this short poem about my parents who died 12 and 11 years ago. It didn't seem to have an end and I have, for now, simply added the words "and I stand here". I think it deserves a better poignant ending and I may look at it again sometime.

In my religion there is not a tradition of visiting burial grounds often. However, I enjoy the peace when I do go and just like my bereavement counselling I always experience a lifting of spirits afterwards. Also, rather like walking the dogs of whom I am guardian, any non-egocentric time is a welcome relief.

btw it will be a difficult campaign to win, but spread the word- we don't own animals




Closing Traces

I stare at granite scoreboards
Which declare the start of their story
And whisper the ending as well.
But in this plot
there will be no more chance for character development.
I am grounded in their past.
They lie there and I stand here.

and here's another one I have just written for those with short attention spans



I have two dead parents
It wasn’t always that way.

oh what a short dramatic moment
" and I feel so close to everything I have lost"
but more real

... pity you didn't post this on the epitaph thread.. I was looking for some new, um, plot twist or other..

Lion of Lions wrote:
>In my religion there is not a tradition of visiting burial grounds often. However, I enjoy the peace when I do go and just like my bereavement counselling I always experience a lifting of spirits afterwards.


i have no idea why coloured men usually do so badly swimming in the olympics, or what was so special with beatrice that dante could not get the kid out of his mind - but even though st george did not faint when he saw blood while decapitating the dragon he would certainly have swooned had he seen the perverse piercing in prince albert's genitals.

.. Geoffrey.. do you prance around in 18th century attire?.. frills, white tights and buckles at the ankle?.. (just curious)...

Violet wrote:
Geoffrey.. do you prance around in 18th century attire?.. frills, white tights and buckles at the ankle?.. (just curious)...


beau brummell is dead, violet. who are you, and how many watts are burning up there in that little attic of yours?

.. none, m'lord.. just candle light..

Violet wrote:
none, m'lord.. just candle light..

romantic. but worry not about being bright, there are weaknesses everywhere. take, for example, the line: "like a knight from some old fashioned book". not good to have in a song because the listener will never realise it should be 'knight' instead of 'night'. so relax.

... interesting how that song gets such a low ranking here.. I remember when I first heard it, it charmed me.. and I did realize it was a knight Leonard was speaking of.. anyway, I'm not too worried about not seeing things too clearly, here in my dim lit attic, because how clearly does one really want to see in this world?..

.. well, I've got to go pick up my car (that just got towed),

'til later,
v i o l e t

Geoffrey wrote:Lion of Lions wrote:
>In my religion there is not a tradition of visiting burial grounds often. However, I enjoy the peace when I do go and just like my bereavement counselling I always experience a lifting of spirits afterwards.


i have no idea why coloured men usually do so badly swimming in the olympics, or what was so special with beatrice that dante could not get the kid out of his mind - but even though st george did not faint when he saw blood while decapitating the dragon he would certainly have swooned had he seen the perverse piercing in prince albert's genitals.

Geoffrey, I am mildly curious about your reasoning for trolling this particular thread.

explain (or even repent) at your leisure.

Lion of Lions wrote:
>Geoffrey, I am mildly curious about your reasoning for trolling this particular thread. explain (or even repent) at your leisure.

you were embedded in thoughts about burial grounds, and the importance of having spirits lifted were you not? isn't it normal practice to get somebody away from sullenness by changing the subject? you tell me - or are you one of those people with paradox personalities who are never happier than when they are unhappy? i am in the middle of making rogan josh, so please don't disturb me again for a while because i am poor company when i'm hungry. comprende?

Apologies to the Lion for responding flippantly to his sincere piece about his parents. Post respectfully removed.

hello

I stand here – I think this is very effective, it gives me a quiet feeling. To me it spoke of the separation between child and dead parents as well as resilience.


added on

I wonder at the line character development ... I wonder if this speaks about the parents, perhaps they the type constantly trying to improve themselves or making suggestions for other people or does it speak about the narrator whose parents will not see the type of man and parent he became.

- - - - -

Your parents died in pretty short span of one another, that must have been a very difficult year for your family

Lion of Lions - might I suggest "lie" instead of "lay" in the last line of your poem - both grammatically and aesthetically it would seem more appropriate.

Geoffrey - Olympic swimming races are always won by coloured men or women.