Before We Die

maybe more of a reflection than a love poem, but there is some of that here too.. ya just need to know where to look for it...

Before We Die

 

Before we die

We must be sure

To read the

Book of Longing

Maybe together

Under an ancient

Yet still white

Foaming quilt  

And with a 

Rogue bough

Tapping

Against the

Steamed up

Bedroom window

For I know

You would then

Be sure

To hold me tight

 

Of course

We would be

More than crazy

To try and read it

In the shower

While you were

Milking me

Beneath a layer

Of fine bubbles

And with that

Bloody bough

Still tapping on the

Bedroom window

In the key of F minor

 

Maybe then

It would make

More sense

To postpone our

Eventual coming

And dedicate these

Words instead

To Irving Layton or

Federico García Lorca

While allowing the

Storm to waste itself

On our behalf

And the bough

To break exhausted  

 

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

Believe Cohen was more poet when first known.. unsure but you will probably know. Did someone say of him that like many men, he knew more about 'longing' that he ever did of 'belonging. Maybe this is where and how came,

'Before we die
We must be sure
To read the
Book of Longing
Maybe together
Under an ancient
Yet still white
Foaming quilt '

[Neville]

thank you for stopping by .. yes Cohen was first & foremost a poet & easily my favourite .. not sure about that saying or quote but I wouldn't be surprised .. Irving Layton was his teacher and friend and Lorca his favourite poet .. although he did write very favourably of three of mine .. this was not one of them. Neville

[emmajoygreen]

To each his own - opinion!

[Arundass TP]

Book of longing! If I know my time of death....now... I will be more happy today. Great poem

[Neville]

Bless you my friend .. and thank you ever so much too .. Neville

[Archishman Rick]

Nice arrangement here; acool and interesting way to set up a scene where you apprise the reader of the book's worth with your creatively thought out visual sequence, my literary friend. Thank you for the suggestion and the wonderful read...
Best wishes.

[Neville]

how extraordinarily kind .. thank you both kindly and true .. Neville

[Ken Simm.]

There is only one word and that word is YES! Or possible two and that other word is superb.
I don't know why I haven't seen this before. Or perhaps I have.

[Neville]

Thanks Ken way too kind though .. Neville

[R J Askew]

Ahem, excuse me while I go and have a look at The Book Of Longing................ Your words stirred up the moment once again! And may there be many more of them.

[Neville]

A welcome and most generous visit Ron.. Many thanks indeed...Until quite recently, I had a spare copy (book of longing Leonard Cohen Penguin Books 2006 as if ya didn't know already.... Regards, Neville

[sette]

this poem really speaks out loud now i know why a bucket list is important

[Neville]

Make sure it's a long list and takes forever to achieve... thank you so much for the visit and for making me chuckle.... Neville

[andrew mitchell]

Wow this speaks volumes Neville. Like a thick soup one digested slowly. Clever.

[Neville]

Thank you ever so much Andrew, a much appreciated visit, in fact one might say souper.... Neville

[barleygirl]

This is one of the best of yours I've read so far. I love this. It's got the right twist between sensuous & authentic & ironic. The tapping branch is everyone's OCD (wherever on the spectrum it exists) that takes us out of that perfect moment of bliss. Thus the gradual legalization of pot worldwide *heh! heh! heh!* Screw those intruding thoughts! Give me mindless orgasm or give me death! (I think I've had too much coffee already) Back to your poem -- best sensuous expression I've seen from you EVER! cute nuggles . . . Fondly, Margie

[Neville]

I just got a head rush thanks to reading what a lovely review you just left for me here Margie.. I am truly delighted that you kind of dug the words you found here too, that really does mean so much... Now then.. about that orgasm... nug nug fondly too.... Neville x

[Coyote Poetry]

Irving Layton or Federico García Lorca. I have read Lorca and I will read Layton. Great words should never be forgotten. I have a thousand books I have read. My teachers were Kosinski, Hemingway and Jack London. Now I love Ben Jonsen, Dryden and Donne. Thank you Neville for sharing your amazing words and thoughts.

Coyote

[Neville]

You are far too generous as well as being very well read... take care my good friend and true... Neville

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[Neville]

as you shall always be...

[steppenwolf]

White foaming quilt...wow!

[Neville]

Thank you.... Neville