Cohen and Kinglets

Today is the second anniversary of Leonard Cohen’s death.  When I go to the Mount Royal cemetery to photograph nature, I stop at an adjacent cemetery to visit his grave site. 

Almost every time, I see someone arriving at, lingering at, or leaving his site. Last month I met a woman, named Lise, who had come all the way from Houston, Texas just to visit his grave and lay some flowers.

Then a couple of weeks ago, I unexpectedly encountered others at his site that were very meaningful to me.  It was a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets flitting about in the grass.

Sixty years ago, the renowned Canadian artist James Fenwick Lansdowne painted a pair of these kinglets and shortly afterwards I received a card of this painting and instantly fell in love with these tiny birds with their orange and yellow “crowns”.  I’ve been in love with them ever since but have only caught fleeting glimpses of them high in trees.  Now, at this place and this time, these birds gave me the chance to see them close up in full display. 

This special moment has inextricably linked my favorite bird with my favorite poet and moved me to write the following poem:

COHEN AND KINGLETS

Many times, I stand by your grave -

I even sometimes sing -

then one October afternoon

I saw a wondrous thing.

Around your grave site marker there,

adorned with stones and words,

there fluttered in the windswept grass

a flock of tiny birds.

My best-loved bird for sixty years,

these kinglets came to you –

my best-loved poet who returned

my life to me renewed.

I felt such exultation for

the synchronicity

that you and I and kinglets were

now linked exquisitely.

The birds flickered like tiny sparks -

their crowns so gold and bright -

your poetry of birds and flames

had somehow come to life.

And tho' you lie 'neath frozen ground,

and I must stand above,

I feel a deep connection here

and sense the warmth of love.

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

Leonard Cohen - one year later

Leonard Cohen died one year ago today. 

On Saturday I visited his grave site to place a small metal plaque reading "love" and was glad to see that a tombstone has now been erected for him (separate from the family one which I photographed for an earlier post).

A plaque was also laid at the foot of his grave.

Last night a tribute concert took place here in Montreal at the Bell Centre - the same venue where I saw him in 2012.  It has received excellent reviews and was organized by Cohen's son Adam.  

It was a star-studded event and will be broadcast on CBC radio 2 at 8 p.m. tonight and a televised version will be broadcast on CBC TV on January 3, 2018 at 8 p.m. (click here for details and more information).

Leonard Cohen - revisited

My previous post was illustrated with photographs of Leonard Cohen's house taken on November 25, 2016.  I revisited his house three days later and again on January 6, 2017 and would like to share more photos taken on those two occasions.  As you will see, many more flowers and oranges were left at the house.

Also, I want to mention a wonderful Christmas gift that I received from my thoughtful and generous sister, Diane.  The photograph above is of this gift which is her painting of Cohen superimposed with many of the words of my favourite song of his, "Alexandra Leaving".  

She painstakingly searched for a still image from one of his videos and then took on the arduous and time-consuming process of painting the image and merging it with the text.  I am so touched by the thoughtfulness of this gift and so awed by the final result.

I left a small copy of this painting within a gazebo in the park opposite his house where the tributes have been moved. 

 

This last photograph is of a tiny, clinging vine on the bricks of his house.  I'm sure there is a metaphor here and were I to have the talent of Leonard Cohen, maybe I could write a poem about it.  Perhaps it would deal with the tenacity and subtle beauty of this little hardy plant as it spreads itself in space and time. I think many of these qualities exist in Cohen's works.

Leonard Cohen - Thank you

Leonard Cohen died on November 7, 2016.

Leonard Cohen lived on poetry, music and love …

I had the privilege to see him in a live performance here in Montreal (his home town) almost four years ago to the day.  There was thunderous applause when he sang his amazing song “Hallellujah” and added a word as shown below:

“I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come home to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the lord of song
With nothing on my tongue but hallelujah.”

I am consistently moved by Leonard Cohen’s songs more than any other poet/singer.  His music evokes emotions of love and longing but also joy.  

As a Montrealer, I am privileged to be able to easily go to his house and his gravesite.  I visited these two places recently and took these photographs.

“And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China …” lyrics from “Suzanne”

"Hineni" is said to mean "Here I am" 

and is repeated in his song "You Want It Darker".

A beautiful rose in the fog and cold.

Thank you dear Leonard for your generosity in sharing your gift with all of us.