I Am Not Your Man Leonard Cohen interviewed by Jian Gomeshi
16/04/2009
Before I was old, you didn’t ask me
how I felt about dying.
how I felt about dying.
Now, being both old and a poet,
I ought to know.
I ought to know.
I answer with words you don’t use -
the alliterative “can’t command the consequences”;
the alliterative “can’t command the consequences”;
I want the truth to sound like me.
We are all caught in this charade of slogans.
We are all caught in this charade of slogans.
I can’t abide glory, but glory pays the bills.
Trophy, atrophy. Rest is how the rust gets in.
Trophy, atrophy. Rest is how the rust gets in.
Beyond the horizon everything comes together
into nothing but survival. Hallelujah.
into nothing but survival. Hallelujah.
If you fall prey to pretty virgin words
you can lie, really lie.
you can lie, really lie.
The teller and the tale.
Shape-shifting. Myth making.
Shape-shifting. Myth making.
“Get anything interesting?” I ask.
The crew want lunch.
The crew want lunch.
— David Haskins
This poem was one of four that won the Leonard Cohen poetry contest run by rootsmusic.ca. It is posted on http://www.rootsmusic.ca/2012/
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