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Poetry
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To Sing Together
By Katanga
27 May 2008
Hmmm!? Yeah, well . . .

Spot the nod?

(to Leonard Cohen)

Cheers!

John X


To Sing Together

Oh come with me
My little one
And we will find a way

To take our twilight longings
Into the break of day

To have and to hold
Our misery
To lay it out in verse

To pin it down in melody
For better or for worse

To sing of Time
And times to come
To banter and to curse

The minute that brought
The Consultant's news
Please, don't help me, Nurse.

Reviews

Written by Phil (7001 comments posted) 27th May 2008
A link for all you Cohen fans: Cohen music - just click on play. 
 
With a nod to Cohen? Yes, I reckon so. This piece also has the sweeping scope of lyrics with specifics thrown in - rather than the other way around. (Not sure I know what that means actually.) 
 
Read it with his gravel and melancholy and it goes really well. 
 
Phil

Written by Josie (2847 comments posted) 27th May 2008
John, I don't know too much about Leonard Cohen, but read: 
 
His work often explores the themes of religion, isolation, sexuality, and complex interpersonal relationships. 
 
You wrote: 
 
To have and to hold 
Our misery 
To lay it out in verse 
 
To pin it down in melody 
For better or for worse 
 
Was he a miserable man then, and what exactly was the cause of his misery that he had to pin it down in melody?  
 
 
 
 
 
Miserable Man?
Written by Katanga (1537 comments posted) 27th May 2008
Some people think he exploits teenage angst and misery. 
 
I prefer to think that, as well as being profound, he has a brilliant sense of humour. 
 
Most of his lyrics are 'faux-tragic' to coin a phrase? 
 
I'm afraid you'd need to spend a lifetime listening to him to get what I'm on about! 
 
It's not important! 
 
Cheers! 
 
John X 
 

Written by Brett (1001 comments posted) 27th May 2008
Tolstoy, there's nothing wrong in a nod to Mr. Cohen as far as I'm concerned - and I agree that aswell as the profundity of his lyrics they also contain such wry humour. 
You have some nice phrases here, I particularly like the final stanza. 
 
I keep reading this to the tune of Cohen's 'So Long, Marianne.' Am I wrong? Works for me anyhow! 
 
Cheers

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