relook at Book of Mercy

Debate on Leonard Cohen's poetry (and novels), both published and unpublished. Song lyrics may also be discussed here.
User avatar
lizzytysh
Posts: 25531
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 8:57 pm
Location: Florida, U.S.A.

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by lizzytysh »

And... Happy Birthday and a hug from me, (((((((((((((((((((((((((Abby)))))))))))))))))))))))) :D !!!


Love,
Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
abby
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by abby »

Thanks so much, Lizzy. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond- I'm travelling right now. Please know that your birthday wishes are much appreciated.

Abby
User avatar
lizzytysh
Posts: 25531
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 8:57 pm
Location: Florida, U.S.A.

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by lizzytysh »

No problem, Abby, just glad you finally got them :) . Are you keeping up with the Leonard tour situation? You may need to prioritize being near a computer the next couple days.


~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
abby
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by abby »

Thanks again, Lizzie. I managed to get tickets for Toronto. Where are you going to see Leonard?

Abby
abby
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by abby »

Jack told me this morning that what I've written most recently in this thread doesn't belong here. Sorry. Luckily God gave me limitless apologies so I'm always ready to hand out one or two. Other than that, I got nothing to add. Bye bye.

Abby
Manna
Posts: 1998
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:51 am
Location: Where clouds go to die

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by Manna »

I stopped to listen, but he did not come. I began again with a sense of loss. As this sense deepened I heard him again. I stopped stopping and I stopped starting, and I allowed myself to be crushed by ignorance. This was a strategy, and didn't work at all. Much time, years were wasted in such a minor mode. I bargain now. I offer buttons for his love. I beg for mercy. Slowly he yields. Haltingly he moves toward his throne. Reluctantly the angels grant to one another permission to sing. In a transition so delicate it cannot be marked, the court is established on beams of golden symmetry, and once again I am a singer in the lower choirs, born fifty years ago to raise my voice this high, and no higher.
why once again that I is a singer? Is it on Boogie Street - off Boogie Street - on Boogie Street - off...?

Here we are again, at the beginning of a book. I've read a bunch of books, and one thing I know about books is that they often begin by introducing the most critical characters. This is in first person, so there's character "I," there's a he, and there are angels. He seems to be more powerful than Mr. I. He decides when to be available and when to not be, while Mr. I begs and offers very small gifts with high hopes.

What happens when angels sing? What makes angels sing? They seem to have acknowledged that something has started at the beginning of this book. Is Mr. I singing with angels? And if he is, is he singing with them as an accepted member of their troupe, or is it more like that annoying guy in the audience next to you who sings along with Leonard on every song on June 23 in Montreal? Did I pay my $150 to listen to that guy?

This high and no higher, and how high is that? G#? ;) He starts out so lonely, but ends up with angels for friends, maybe. Not bad.

I wonder if he thinks music is important. Song is an interesting way to communicate. For ages, song was the way one generation spoke to another, even over several generations.
abby
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by abby »

Oh, come the fuck on, Jack and Manna. Let's begin again again.

Abby
User avatar
~greg
Posts: 818
Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:26 am

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by ~greg »

lazariuk
Posts: 1952
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:38 am
Location: Vancouver

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by lazariuk »

abby wrote:Oh, come the fuck on, Jack and Manna. Let's begin again again.
Abby
you got my interest. I have the book now

Jack
Everything being said to you is true; Imagine of what it is true.
abby
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by abby »

I stopped to listen, but he did not come. I began again with a sense of loss. As this sense deepened I heard him again. I stopped stopping and I stopped starting, and I allowed myself to be crushed by ignorance. This was a strategy, and didn't work at all. Much time, years were wasted in such a minor mode. I bargain now. I offer buttons for his love. I beg for mercy. Slowly he yields. Haltingly he moves toward his throne. Reluctantly the angels grant to one another permission to sing. In a transition so delicate it cannot be marked, the court is established on beams of golden symmetry, and once again I am a singer in the lower choirs, born fifty years ago to raise my voice this high, and no higher.

Start at the beginning? My thought this morning is that I stop what I'm doing and listen for him coming when he's someone I care about. I'd probably like for him to do the same thing for me, but I don't know if he does.

Abby
abby
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by abby »

Or maybe if I were a really good person, it wouldn't matter if he does the same for me.
abby
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by abby »

I think I'm beginning again with a sense of loss.
abby
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by abby »

What's this? Is it the feeling of being crushed? Finally. All this waiting was starting to depress me.
Manna
Posts: 1998
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:51 am
Location: Where clouds go to die

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by Manna »

Sounds to me now like he's talking about F.
che
Posts: 64
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:48 pm

Re: relook at Book of Mercy

Post by che »

Abby you are very in detail of this and this helps me greatly with reading the book. I find it difficult because my English is still not so good. Muchas gracias .
Post Reply

Return to “Leonard Cohen's poetry and novels”