leonardcohenforum.com

Eulogy in Reverse



Why did I ever

mourn you?

I never knew you,

you were just a reflection

of the qualities

I saw in myself.

You had no real identity,

and you only would

show the world

a limited variety

of ill-tempered, drunken

poses -

which seems to be

the sum essence you had

been

reduced to

by the time we met.


I sang songs after your passing,

and really,

none of them was deserved.

Not a one.

You were unremarkable in your

every day cruelties,

and only your mean-spirited dog

received

the full flower of your intentions.


Both of you were both decidedly

hard-bitten creatures.


I remember when I received

the news of your

uncharacteristic end.

I had never seen you use a

needle.

But now I understand,

and the end seems

appropriate

somehow.

You got under the skin of people,

but never went any deeper.

Vacant already, you

continued to seek

the ultimate vacancy,

and embraced it.

by then, I am sure

that it meant little.


I am sure that I have violated

many tenets of song,

and eulogy,

by what I have said here.

Let this stand as an eulogy

as well,

and may he rest,

the drunken bastard,

forever in peace.

Time appears to have healed in a most unusual fashion, as time is sometimes wont to do. However, your continuing reflections have brought you a number of insights and interesting, symbolic parallels. Honest of you to speak out as you have regarding someone apparently once considered a dear friend. Healing also takes its own routes. Very interesting [with its own brand of power] reading [and reading into] yours. I love the title.