... In late July this year, Cohen received an e-mail from Jan Christian Mollestad, a close friend of Marianne’s, saying that she was suffering from cancer. In their last communication, Marianne had told Cohen that she had sold her beach house to help insure that Axel would be taken care of, but she never mentioned that she was sick. Now, it appeared, she had only a few days left. Cohen wrote back immediately:
Well Marianne, it’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. And you know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road.
Two days later, Cohen got an e-mail from Norway:
Dear Leonard
Marianne slept slowly out of this life yesterday evening. Totally at ease, surrounded by close friends.
Your letter came when she still could talk and laugh in full consciousness. When we read it aloud, she smiled as only Marianne can. She lifted her hand, when you said you were right behind, close enough to reach her.
It gave her deep peace of mind that you knew her condition. And your blessing for the journey gave her extra strength. . . . In her last hour I held her hand and hummed “Bird on the Wire,” while she was breathing so lightly. And when we left the room, after her soul had flown out of the window for new adventures, we kissed her head and whispered your everlasting words.
So long, Marianne . . .
Funny, didn't even see this, just came into post this. It is my favorite Cohen tune though:
... In late July this year, Cohen received an e-mail from Jan Christian Mollestad, a close friend of Marianne’s, saying that she was suffering from cancer. In their last communication, Marianne had told Cohen that she had sold her beach house to help insure that Axel would be taken care of, but she never mentioned that she was sick. Now, it appeared, she had only a few days left. Cohen wrote back immediately:
Well Marianne, it’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. And you know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road.
Two days later, Cohen got an e-mail from Norway:
Dear Leonard
Marianne slept slowly out of this life yesterday evening. Totally at ease, surrounded by close friends.
Your letter came when she still could talk and laugh in full consciousness. When we read it aloud, she smiled as only Marianne can. She lifted her hand, when you said you were right behind, close enough to reach her.
It gave her deep peace of mind that you knew her condition. And your blessing for the journey gave her extra strength. . . . In her last hour I held her hand and hummed “Bird on the Wire,” while she was breathing so lightly. And when we left the room, after her soul had flown out of the window for new adventures, we kissed her head and whispered your everlasting words.
The cover I like best is when some talented kid tackles it at a local open mic and the whole bar joins in...awesome. I like the way the song can be stripped down so bare and the power it possesses as a work of art grows even more...conversely I think it's called...
i heard a really good version at a high school choral concert last month.
The cover I like best is when some talented kid tackles it at a local open mic and the whole bar joins in...awesome. I like the way the song can be stripped down so bare and the power it possesses as a work of art grows even more...conversely I think it's called...
DO I stand alone in hating Leonard Cohen? I don't know why but I go to Pandora when any of his shit comes up...which is often on RP. It all started with Suzanne. I hate his drone and hated it since I was a DJ in the 60's. Got in trouble from dropping him from my playlist but Jesus!!! But to be fair, poetry is not my thing but good god almighty...make him stop!
It's kind of like that worn out old overcoat all tattered and natty You love it because it's familiar and warm and it looks so good with that scarf your Aunt Thelma gave you that woeful Christmas How could she have known? The lonely frozen streets and the sound of tinsel clicking on hollow plastic. It couldn't have come at a better time. But now she's gone. Now Aunt Thelma is gone too... and still, the deflection just gets harder every year..After all The moths deserve what they get...
. It is my favorite Cohen tune though: 
