A few years ago I fed my interest in the American Civil War by a lot of reading, and by visiting a number battlefields.  I have more than a shelf of books.  I’ve spent time at Gettysburg, Petersburg, and Fort Fisher.  In that day the preparation for battle meant forming a “line of battle,” serried lines of infantry, at the ready, advancing on orders, into the face of musket fire and cannon.  To stand at the Devils Den at Gettysburg on a beautiful spring morning, is enough to make one weep.  The imagination is enough to provide the distant rumble of artillery batteries filling the air with shrapnel, and the cracking wave of musket fire–the ground around strewn with bodies.  Gaps were torn in the line of battle when men fell.  Comrades of the fallen knew what to do—close up the line and keep moving forward.

Leonard Cohen has died.  (Sept 21, 1934-November 10, 2016)  I feel, I know that a hole has been torn in our line.  We must close up and keep moving forward.  Many words have been written about Cohen’s life and work.  There is a spectacular overview of the poets work by David Remnick in the New Yorker.  The reading is food for ones soul.  LEONARD COHEN MAKES IT DARKER

My exposure to Cohen’s songs has been limited to one or two of the most famous, ‘Suzanne’ and ‘Hallelujah.’  In retrospect looking back to the 60s when I was a young man, until now, each time I happened to hear ‘Suzanne’ on the radio, I had the sensation of being in a sacred space.  The song is a prayer, a quest for redemption.  How uncanny the feeling when it comes as one is driving in heavy traffic.  ‘Hallelujah’ works in the same way.  Here is a rare clip of Cohen performing ‘Suzanne.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIssqxixYp0

The language about Jesus as a sailor walking-on-the-water, watching from his lonely wooden tower, where he knew for certain that only drowning men could see him,  —still “knocks me out” when I hear the words sung.

Especially at this time when Sauron the Great prepares to begin his rule from the White House,  –we need to close up the line.  We need to listen mindfully, and meditate deeply upon the words of Cohen and others who advocate worldly redemption, the continued work on our solidarity as humans with one another, and with the earth.

THERE IS A CRACK IN EVERYTHING, THAT’S HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN.

–Leonard Cohen on Democracy and its Redemption.