poetry

June 7, 2005

I am going through my Leonard Cohen books to see if I can find anything the family could agree to put on my mothers monument.

No matter how many times I read them I always find new favorites in works I had previously thought weren't so exciting.

I think it's part of aging to develop different appreciations. 12 years ago I would have written his poetry in a paper journal and then I would have tried my hand at writing my own, now I'd rather just think about what he says, and how it makes me feel.


Here's a good one.


from: My teacher is dying

Martha talk to me
Toss out the fake Jap silence
Scream in my kitchen
logarithms laundry lists anything
Talk to me
My radio is falling to pieces
My betrayals are so fresh
they still come with explanations


Continued from main page..
Posted by Miriam at June 7, 2005 10:25 PM | TrackBack Posted to books/music

Comments

My favourite Leonard Cohen poetry snippet is:
"You are always with someone else
I'm going to burn down your house
and fuck you in the ass
If you have the presence of mind
to look over your shoulder
you'll see me swooning
Why don't you come over to my table
with no pants on
I'm sick of surprising you."

I've actually used the "I'm going to burn down your house and fuck you in the ass" line in a threatening email I sent once. It had the intended effect (the person felt very threatened).
Mwua-ha-ha.
MK

Posted by: MK at June 8, 2005 1:24 AM

I am waiting for Ruth to weigh in on this one.

She used to have the best LC poem she had transcribed in multi-coloured marker on an 8 x 11 sheet of paper stuck to her bedroom wall.

About sitting in a cafe. I can't remember the rest, and i don't have it here, or maybe I do.

In fact when she left for thailand I probably took it along with all her cassettes and now its in a suitcase under the settee.

BTW I love your choice.
maybe the adult leonard cohen appreciation is all about finding the beautiful parts of very very angry...

mwah ha ha

BTW2 The aforementioned Ruth and I went to see Len (I feel like I can call him that, we've shared so much) in concert at Massey Hall when we were 16. It was awesome, I have been secretly in love with him ever since.

Posted by: mir at June 8, 2005 9:45 AM

Lovely. You've inspired me to read poetry this late afternoon.

Posted by: Opinionated Lesbian at June 8, 2005 5:27 PM