“I want to write and read poems filled with terror and music that change laws and lives. This isn’t one of them. But it has stuck with me long enough, like a lucky stone, to suggest that it’s true.” Leonard Cohen Chooses His Favorite Poem From His Own Work

Leonard Cohen was a contributor to Poet’s Choice edited by Paul Engle and Joseph Langland. (New York: The Dial, 1962). The premise of the book is revealed in its subtitle: “103 of the Greatest Living Poets Choose Their Favorite Poem from Their Own Work and Give the Reason for Their Choice.”

Leonard Cohen’s choice and comment follows:

For Anne
From The Spice-Box of Earth by Leonard Cohen

With Annie gone
Whose eyes to compare
With the morning sun?

Not that I did compare,
But I do compare
Now that she’s gone.

 

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I want to write and read poems filled with terror and music that change laws and lives. This isn’t one of them. But it has stuck with me long enough, like a lucky stone, to suggest that it’s true.

 

Leonard Cohen

 

I am republishing selected posts from my former Leonard Cohen site, Cohencentric, here on AllanShowalter.com (these posts can be found at Leonard Cohen). This entry was originally posted Mar 1, 2016.

2 thoughts on ““I want to write and read poems filled with terror and music that change laws and lives. This isn’t one of them. But it has stuck with me long enough, like a lucky stone, to suggest that it’s true.” Leonard Cohen Chooses His Favorite Poem From His Own Work

  1. On YouTube, the version of “Dance me to the End of Love” that they say is the classic, there’s two singers who look Italian and look like identical twins. Who are they?
    Also who are the two singers next to LC singing either Vienna Waltz or 1000 Kisses deep? The one on the left has freckles and frizzy auburn hair and the one on the right of Leonard is a very beautiful African-American who lays her head on his shoulder. It’s not Sharon Robinson. Not sure what year but Leonard is young.
    Thank you in anticipation 😊🙏🏻

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