I even dreamt lines to this WOW, so caught up in Cohen’s words (as I often am by his lyrics). Offer up two of the four/five I wrote. Not on the caliber of other submissions, but need to get some of these lines out of my head.
There is a series of micro-bursts buried inside these lyrics, too. They are brewing, like my morning coffee, strong, dark, lightened by cream and streaming dawn.
Original chosen by Black Cat for WOW #4. Thank you for hosting this intellectual, creative prompt. This choice has my mind racing – writing new versions as I sip coffee and contemplate.
You All in White by Leonard Cohen
©Leonard Cohen
Whatever cities are brought down,
I will always bring you poems,
and the fruit of orchards
I pass by.
Strangers in your bed,
excluded by our grief,
listening to sleep-whispering,
will hear their passion beautifully explained,
and weep because they cannot kiss
your distant face.
Lovers of my beloved,
watch how my words put on her lips like clothes,
how they wear her body like a rare shawl.
Fruit is pyramided on the window-sill,
songs flutter against the disappearing wall.
The sky of the city
is washed in the fire
of Lebanese cedar and gold.
In smoky filigree cages
the apes and peacocks fret.
Now the cages do not hold,
in the burning street man and animal
perish in each other’s arms,
peacocks drown around the melting throne.
Is it the king
who lies beside you listening?
Is it Solomon or David
or stuttering Charlemagne?
Is that his crown
in the suitcase beside your bed?
When we meet again,
you all in white,
I smelling of orchards,
when we meet —
But now you awaken,
and you are tired of this dream.
Turn toward the sad-eyed man.
He stayed by you all the night.
You will have something
to say to him.
I
poems
sleep-whispering
and
songs flutter
washed
in smoky filigree
melting, listening, stuttering
awaken
dream
something
to say
II
sleep-whispering
passion
lover’s lips like fruit
on fire
in each other’s arms
smoky, filigree
melting
lies beside
listening, stuttering
again
awaken
this dream
all the night
(c) Lorraine
February 23, 2017 at 2:08 pm
a moment of forlorn beauty
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February 23, 2017 at 10:59 pm
Thank you. I appreciate you’re coming by and leaving a comment.
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February 23, 2017 at 1:03 pm
WOWWOWOWOWOW!!!!!
I swear, everyone is going to get sick of my enthusiasm …. but I am so LOVING ALL these entries.
And yours are no exception Lorraine. (And I just wish you didn’t feel the need to put down your entries so much, but I understand how you’re feeling)
These are awesome – amazing – interesting, the dynamics of picking and choosing and re-playing is beyond fascinating.
Everything changes each time – new meanings, ideas, attributes, images form, shape shift, play out – and I’m so intrigued and bowled over!
Seriously …. these are top-notch!
And what I really love Lorraine? In this case, playing with a grand master (oh, how cheeky and daring of me) means we are sure to find some totally awesome new things to be mined. And what I love is that within this little, humble prompt game – in some way, you feel ignited and sparked – even ready to microburst …. and that’s part of the “best’ of this for me …. and if this really works for you, helps you find the silver slices of creativity? Then all the better!
So yes, sip and sip and let the mind slip into the play zone …. and just enjoy the process …. if anything, if it brings you the slightest hint of comfort, peace, joy and meaning … then this is more than something good – it’s great.
So thank you for playing again – and you know, these prompts are always “open” …. so when the moment strikes, go ahead.
And just because you’re not feeling too “sh*t hot” at the moment …. extra extra gentle hugs ((((((((((Lorraine)))))))))))
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February 23, 2017 at 10:57 pm
Thanks Pat. ((((((Pat))))) I doubt that anyone will get sick of your enthusiasm — means all the more reason to participate. If we are blowing you away, then we are doing something right. Smiling.
It is a fun process, really, even if I don’t feel the best about what I post. This one had my mind working while I drifted in the between sleep and awake zones — calculating other parameters of combinations. So, thank you for putting these together. Cohen is so full of imagery and poetics, the possibilities grow with every reading of the original.
Thanks for everything (((((Pat)))))
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February 24, 2017 at 10:02 am
your more than welcome Lorraine :)
and I’m glad that, even with the sleep disruption – I so hear you on that – when an idea or words just have to play in the head at the most “inopportune times” – that you see possibilities and creative bursts unfolding. :)
((((Lorraine)))))
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February 25, 2017 at 8:18 pm
My mind does tend to pop at times, and when things get caught up inside, when I drift, they play.
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February 26, 2017 at 9:00 am
Pop! Fizzie wizzie wizzie ;)
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February 26, 2017 at 11:23 am
Exactly! Smiling broadly with a knowing wink.
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