leonardcohenforum.com

In The Heart Of The Computer

I've created,
I tap into my water world
Every country in every world can touch me
Reckless outlaws always searching for more than the dollar
Pry deep beyond my firewall
For magic, for Salem, for kindling
Numbered bricks clang naughts and zeros
Against my car crushed skull,
The box purrs and I sigh at our perversities
In moments of sleep I appreciate
The beauty in an android world that shuns ours.
In heat, I prey for a solace
A nurturing touch
Soft pink lips that charge alike when they brush mine
I think of every love this solitary world witnessed
Confess I don't know yet the possibility
Is possible,
I tap into my water world
And in the dark valley
I shed a prayer
To continue my journey to you

Computers (electronics) and water are generally a no mix
combination, so the juxtaposition of the two is jarring enough
to raise the question as to whether the water is flowing through
the best route, BUT that may be intentional. Leonard's
words, "but now its come to distances" preceded the internet,
but the internet has both distanced and connected people. In
terms of the "heart," old fashioned radio probably was more
meaningful in connections among those gathered in pre-tv
days around it and in furthering REAL listening ability.

And who would want virtual lips?

Steven, you have given me a belly ache! Mixed metaphors indeed, or at least the water is the metaphor and maybe the world would be a better place if we just poured the real water over these humming birds of far to much information.

I am after real lips mind you, and I guess the "computer heart" is an idea of ethics being by the book. I wanted with the piece to impart both myself and the computer as separate parts, perhaps I've not managed to do that and will have to consider revising the work, essentially this piece is about my poetry on the internet being steps towards a REAL love that I want to find out there in the REAL world.

And the purring box isn't computer related at all, however poetry is about making associations and making an availability of interpretations to different people, in my opinion.

I do like your observation, it is about the connections we can make and the personal and quite subjective nature of these relationships, also this is the first time I've had my writing out there, so I guess its a reflection on my paranoia's as well. Although I do hope you aren't implying I've no ear for reality, that would be a little adventurous in your assumptions.

As for radio, mono, easy listening, definitely the way to retain ones sanity in this ever growing franchise of computer components. Thanks for your comments.

James.

N.B Have attempted to make it clearer now whilst trying to maintain my intial flow of thought, hope my purpose is made clearer because of it. Thanks again for your thoughts.

James,

No belly aches, please. I understood the water as a metaphor and
understood the info. overload part, also. I took the metaphor
as that of energy, life-force, libido, or something similar.

A qualitative difference between data and emotion came across,
in the anthrompomorphosizing of computer as having "heart"
(at least to this reader who is embarassed, a bit, to use the
word "anthropomorphosizing"). Never did I think, nor do
I have any reason to think that you have "no ear for reality;"
the two poems I've read of yours, lead me to believe the
contrary. Lots of people have lost the capacity for listening,
though, in the computer age, and it was those people that prompted
my reference to radio listeners of bygone days, in contradistinction
to many people in today's info. age. Take care.

Sorry for jumping the gun a bit there Steven, I find my writing a little challenging for myself to understand which has its ups and downs so I guess I get nervous when being reviewed. I now definitely have a new longest word (when I can find a good enough dictionary for a definition, although can grasp the concept at least) and thank you for that and your thoughts and clarification. I could go on in a long soliloquy about the ups and downs of a lot of things, but will just take a long drink of some Nina Simone I think, thanks again.
Humbly yours,
James.

James,

I just finished a first time run-through of the Leonard Cohen
DVD (with numerous replaying of some of the things on it),
"I'm Your Man." In an interview with him (part of the "bonus"
material) he says something to the effect that he doesn't
always understand his material, though he (paraphrasing him)
likes to believe the material is coherent. So, you're in great
company with the challenge of understanding of personally
derived material. Leonard said that it is through others'
interpretation of his material (in performance), that he has
acquired understanding of some of his own songs.

Hated to use that word; usually don't speak like that, but
was writing in a hurry -- and risked sounding like an obtuse
academic to enable a timely reply to you. There are plenty
of words, terms, etc. that you know that could easily stump
me and send me to the dictionary, Google or encyclopedia.

Humbly yours,
Steven

Dear Steven,

This is the truest reflection of what this site and the internet can do for a person, you've inspired me with your gifts of thought, compassion and compliment; I hope it will inspire more work, but it has certainly inspired today, thank you.

Sincerely,
James.

P.s. I have not seen the dvd "I'm Your Man" in case there is anyone out there thinking I am just here to pull peoples strings (not you Steven), mind you I am probably a Cohen wannabe, nothing wrong with that he can play music, I cannot.