"Hallelujah..."

“Hallelujah…”

- you pick your version

cause this is mine.

 

I paused and listened to Leonard Cohen a bit and then found some other "old friends"... 

 

I visited some thoughts

seemingly unbidden -

paused with tears and smiles

…memories - some both sad and sweet,

others - well, their echoes seemed to fill the air,

the mind, the heart

with moments never lost

…just paused in time.

 

You get touched by so much.

so many, …so often -

in ways you didn't recognize would come

and life flies in ways you never believed

could pass …or ever be again.

 

And you find tears in the comfort

of arms' memories that haven't ceased

holding

(if only in your mind)

your heart and all that makes you

who you are

…as smiles' ghost your lips

and haunt your mind.

 

Eventually eyes’ vision

and world’s sounds return and you

breathe

…and breathe…

and sometimes the tears cease

and sometimes they still just …silently flow -

and you never know which ‘til

you’re paused in THAT moment

and soooo very …aware

of just where you were just a life’s-time ago.

 

I paused and listened to Leonard Cohen,

damn… damn…

…just listened was all.

 

Chris

Author's Note

Feel free

Reviews

[Karmee]

This is magniff, I truly enjoyed the ending a lot.
I found this write profound and intriguing.

[Chris]

I hope you find more of mine to pause with and listen to...

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Oh the eternity of the unfound minute that lures and comforts our soul...the common goal among a few if only I knew I’d share it with you.. really stirs the depth of knowing yet not quite/ unable to reach..maybe one day..lovely words🌹

[Chris]

One day perhaps we'll share that thought.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Chris, your version, “both sad and sweet” erupts rapturously from your heart and soul. As uplifting as Cohen’s is mournful....both are personal, musical journeys in life and time and memory imprinting images of the immediacy and rawness of emotion.....the good and the bad, the best of times and the worst of times...the abiding and redeeming love holding it all together. “I paused and listened to Leonard Cohen”...and learned transcendence. Thank you for this beautiful poem/song. Cohen would be proud.

[poetgurl]

deep intriguing write here, enjoyed this

[Chris]

Come by anytime...

[Great Aunt Astri]

Well, your's is not a bad version of 'Hallelujah'. A very reflective poem, with an honest and balanced account of what life is like.I think Cohen's singing of the song is the best .. and I detect the 'cynicism' there, if only in his voice. May you have many more of life's memories!

[emmajoy]

Music so often fills the spaces between lines of words. Like you, i love listening to music, especially late at night

Hallelujah is as near an anthem a song can be: written by a poet who knew his own mind, rarely apologising for his flaws. His lyrics embrace such deep emotions about love, failure, regret, courage and human weakness The song, the singer, carries the listener to a space high in the sky.. as often does your writing, Chris.

You've shown so much emotion and wonderment, sadness and adventure in your post, memories nostalgic, fragile, yet keen, love that lasts, that holds, that hides. Have you recorded this poem?

[R.E. Ray]

Chris, an incredible poem that illustrates the power of music, even expressed in a printed poem. I'm not a Cohen fan, and I still get it. I listen to music two to four hours every day, and most of the time I'm thinking about something in history related to the song or artist. Thanks for this one.

[Chris]

Welcome to WC... thanks for pausing here and for speaking up...

[Emily B]

when the Muse stops to listen . . . your thoughts come from such a deep place. We are honored to share them.

[Chris]

We touch as we are touched...

[Coyote Poetry]

Leonard Cohen is my favorite version of the song of legend. I was lucky. I saw him in concert in 1978 and 1979 in Germany. I liked all his song. Last music of the Poet of song was deep and honest. Thank you Chris for sharing your poetry and thoughts.
Coyote

[Chris]

Memories live on inside us.

[Coyote Poetry]

I still use Leonard Cohen, Johnnie Cash and the old songs as my muse. I agree.