Because I knew You

A tribute to Leonard Cohen

I wanted you, while in my youth. 
You wanted lies, you called them truth. 
I never understood what it was 
to be with you. 

I felt the earth, I saw the sky 
I fell through hell and wondered why 
no one felt the red flow 
as it drew you. 

and still it rains from my soul, 
and from a mind not quite whole, 
it was a life I knew, 
when I was with you. 

I touched the mountain, 
I stood in this pyre. 
I flew too close, 
melted in the fire, 

and always it was you 
I kept coming back to. 

You have to live or else you die, 
To go on in truth unless you lie, 
and though the chorus sings 
it passes through you. 

when the end comes to me at last, 
and my life is all in the past, 
only singed, charcoal smoke 
offered to and through you, 

I'll sing the praise 
always on my tongue. 
The blessed phrase 
not for the young: 

I wasn't all alone, 
because I knew you.

Reviews

[redflutterby]

Powerful ode that fits the man. Your poetry always reads so well aloud. No awkward breaks or tongue trip ups..just fabulous smooth flow. ;-)

[Mark]

Thank you very much.

[redflutterby]

You're very welcome Mark. :-)

[Casner P]

Very sincere and heartfelt. Great poem.

[Mark]

Thank you.

[Baby Ricochet]

Great tribute and a great poem

[Mark]

Thanks
BR

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow Mark, Leonard Cohen was very dark in all his writing. He seems to have affected many people. I missed out on Cohen as everyone used to say if you are not holding a razor blade to your wrist while listening to him you will by the time the song ends. Nice poetic tribute.

[Mark]

really? I never felt that way after listening to him, but then maybe I was hardened on the darkness of artists like Layne Staley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm72DPJCX58

[Archangel Gabriel]

This sounds like a chant of a poem and it is in cellebration of someone who meant a great deal to the protagonist. A flowing and lovwly tribute to another but sad in the loss.

[Mark]

Thank you, you nailed it. :)

[Sirius King]

nice flow, sincere words

great tribute

[Mark]

Thank you for reading and the compliment.

[Stella Armour]

my favourite guy, Frieda and i both his biggest fans on the site. A lovely tribute poem to him Mark

[Mark]

THank you Stella!

[Stella Armour]

you are very welcome

[Frieda P]

Just lovely, what a great tribute...he'd be proud! Wraps him up nicely, if you can even do that to an icon...love this Mark!

[Mark]

Thanks Frieda, glad you liked it.

[Frieda P]

Ha, just wanted to say I was listening to "Waiting for A Miracle' whilst reading this... ;-)

[Mark]

listening now... looks like that song was covered by lots of singers.

[Frieda P]

I doubt anyone could hold a candle to our man though, my favorite lately is 'I'm Your Man'.....

[Mark]

Well I'm glad you made me think of this poem. For some reason it is not in my archives, I had to go to an old poetry site to find it.

[Frieda P]

I'm glad you did too, can't get enough Cohen. :-)