leonardcohenforum.com

Peter Goes West

I do not presume to judge you
Now that you are gone,
The leaf would've fallen anyway
The bird would've flown,
Taking talisman, tarot deck
And Ayn Rand tome,
On a journey to far West
Your spiritual home.

Land of parking lots and desert malls,
Skateboards on the board walks,
Beggars in the bleachers
watching volleyball.
Hard bodies on baked beaches,
Fantasy and fraud.
Penitents & preachers,
Jesus is Lord.

Charlatans, shaman,
Casteneda, Charlie Manson
Snake oil sales at seminars
Bringing in a ransom,
Dollars for scents, vitamins for viruses.
Aspiring actors ache,
Cast the I Ching, read the runes,
that lucky break is overdue,
and stars are born of destiny
A transit of Mars and Neptune
Or the moon in Capricorn.

The band plays on in la la land.
In California now
Catholic boys genuflect
To new age sacred cows,
Have it all, have it now -
Let god off the hook,
When you're disappointed
You didn't wish longer,
Hope harder, or want it bad enough.

A one a.m. transatlantic call
a mid-western drawl, goes on to say
I was in your address book,
someone to inform -
and written next a list of keepsakes
Concerns a few effects.
Could he send your talisman
Some books and a tarot deck?
I thought of you for a night or two
Then I rang your mom in Slough
Sometimes I still do.

Oh geez, Jonnie. A totally unexpected ending here.
Poignant and moving ~ how life unfolds. And how some of the moves we make don't have the best outcome.
Even though it awaits us all... there's a strike of sadness when one is unknown.
Thanks for sharing your sweet tribute to your friend.

Hi Lizzie ~ Thanks for reading and commenting. It's much appreciated. I'm looking forward to seeing Leonard in Lucca in a couple of weeks. Will you get the chance to see any European shows?

Hi Jonnie ~ No, I won't get that chance. I wish. Would love to meet you, too.

I love the sad acceptance that permeates your first verse and the images you chose to express it.

And the spot-on descriptions of the 'land' he went to, in your second one.
And how "hope" plays out once there [as well as other places] ~ so graphic.
Such precise selection of details to make your point in both verses.

Your description of that life in your fourth is haunting and true.
I take the last 3 lines of that verse to refer to you... or is it him?
I was able to make sense of it either way.

Your last verse, of course, is a one-two-three punch denouement.
And ends with an image that, somehow, we all know from our lives... and shows your tenderness and caring.

Very impacting writing, Jonnie.