Singledust Living on the equator but longing for snow
Has nominated me for a 3 Day Lyric Quiz
Thank you Gina.
A three-day lyrical challenge
The Rules:
1 .Thank the person who nominated you. – Thank you Again, Gina
2 .Share one of your favourite song/lyrics one at a time for three days.
3 .Nominate three other bloggers each day. (or one, one is probably enough)
Day 3 of my “Three-day Lyrical Challenge”, and for all of my readers that know me well, it was always going to be about Leonard Cohen, whom I unashamedly admit has been the biggest influence on my life. He has been with me since I was a teenager, his music, poetry, books and philosophies, have been my constant companion throughout all of the undulations during my life’s journey. For me to choose one special song is a difficult task, but I shall pick an older tune, that I played often during my days/months/years recovering from a stroke, at a time, I could barely read or write properly. Life was tough, and there were moments of “Do I want to go on”, and Leonard was there in my darkest hours, my saviour. Now to that all important song, “Sisters Of Mercy”, and when you read the lyrics, you might understand the significance of the song, during my time of both physical and mental healing. I’ve also added a footnote with some further information …
Sisters Of Mercy, Lyrics
O the sisters of mercy they are not
Departed or gone,
They were waiting for me when I thought
That I just can’t go on,
And they brought me their comfort
And later they brought me this song.
O I hope you run into them
You who’ve been traveling so long.Yes, you who must leave everything
That you cannot control;
It begins with your family,
But soon it comes round to your soul.
Well, I’ve been where you’re hanging
I think I can see how you’re pinned.
When you’re not feeling holy,
Your loneliness says that you’ve sinned.
Well they lay down beside me
I made my confession to them.
They touched both my eyes
And I touched the dew on their hem.
If your life is a leaf
That the seasons tear off and condemn
They will bind you with love
That is graceful and green as a stem.
When I left they were sleeping,
I hope you run into them soon.
Don’t turn on the light
You can read their address by the moon;
And you won’t make me jealous
If I hear that they sweeten your night
We weren’t lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right
We weren’t lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right.
“It is a mysterious process, it involves perseverance and perspiration and sometimes, by some grace, something stands out and invites you to elaborate or animate it. These are sacred mechanics and you have to be careful analysing them as you would never write a line again. If you looked too deeply into the process you’d end up in a state of paralysis.” –Leonard Cohen, about the process of writing.
Though Cohen would produce dark, funereal imagery at will, all his work is undercut with a wry and playful sense of humour.
There was a raging storm last night, I struggled to sleep, I was in and out of my dreams, and during my semi-conscious times, I jotted down these lines.
I remember the day
Like it was yesterday
A cold morning, ten o’clock
I, a shadow in the paddock
Standing beside a giant pylon
I looked up to heaven
Straight up the tower
The tower of power
Crosses of galvanized iron
Shiny under the winter sun
Wind whistling through its huge steel web
Howling like hades walking dead
And demons screaming in my head
My spirit begun climbing the spire
Clambering higher and higher
Up the pyramid of life’s wires
Desperate, I grasp at my ultimate desire
A visionary mission before I die
To embrace a piece of my angels sky
To the amazing Leonard Cohen, I thank you for being the inspiration behind my writings, over and over your words and songs have soothed the depths of my soul, and again you’ve caressed my heart during my times of sorrow, bless you, up there in your tower of song.
The lyrics of this song “Come Healing” are so beautifully poignant for all of us who are in the process of healing, and attached here my poem Mango Smoothie, was also about healing. https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/03/12/mango-smoothie/
O gather up the brokenness
And bring it to me now
The fragrance of those promises
You never dared to vow
The splinters that you carry
The cross you left behind
Come healing of the body
Come healing of the mind
And let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb
Behold the gates of mercy
In arbitrary space
And none of us deserving
The cruelty or the grace
O solitude of longing
Where love has been confined
Come healing of the body
Come healing of the mind
O see the darkness yielding
That tore the light apart
Come healing of the reason
Come healing of the heart
O troubled dust concealing
An undivided love
The heart beneath is teaching
To the broken heart above
Let the heavens falter
Let the earth proclaim
Come healing of the altar
Come healing of the name
O longing of the branches
To lift the little bud
O longing of the arteries
To purify the blood
And let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb
O let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb
My finale stanza from my poem “Mango Smoothie”, the words are all part of my healing process, and I’m now feeling quite comfortable within myself on these days of reflection.
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 