There's a Crack in everything - that's how the Light gets in

Driving to my brother's funeral in Los Angeles, where my family is from.  First thing I do is go to visit Mother Ocean, the Pacific, the place it begins and always seems to end.  My feet walk on the sand, and I think of this song by Leonard Cohen.  Truly, he says it all.  To love, indeed, we all must come - but like a refugee.  That's how the light gets in...............

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The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be

Ah the wars they will
Be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

We asked for signs
The signs were sent:
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see

I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned up, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
And they're going to hear from me

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in

Seeking Advice from Leonard

MY TIME
from The Book of Longing

My time is running out
and still I have not sung
the true song
the great song

I admit
that I seem
to have lost my courage

a glance at the mirror
a glimpse into my heart
makes me want
to shut up forever

so why do you lean me here
Lord of my life
lean me at this table
in the middle of the night
wondering
how to be beautiful?

Lauren:

What else is there to do?

 

Leonard Cohen on a Plane

"There's a crack in everything - that's how the Light gets in."

Leonard Cohen

A PROMISE

I will never
return
the Holy Grail
to its
"rightful owners."

BASKET

You should go

from place to place

recovering the poems

that have been written for you,

to which you can affix your signature.

Don't discuss these matters

with anyone.

Retrieve.  Retrieve.

When the basket is full

someone will appear

to whom you can present it.

She will spread her wide skirt

and sit down

on a black stone

and your basket will bounce

like a speck in sunlight

on the immense landscape

of her lap.

WISH ME LUCK

a fresh spiderweb
billowing
like a spinaker
across the open window
and here he is
the little master
sailing by
on a thread of milk
wish me luck
admiral
I haven't finished anything
in a long time

Leonard Cohen, from The Book of Longing

                                             Harper Collins, 2006