Leonard Cohen on ‘Fresh Air’
Do yourself a favor and listen to Terry Gross’s interview with Leonard Cohen. Cohen has lived long and had his share, like everyone, of struggle and sorrow. But the groundedness, the serenity in which he speaks about his work and his life reminds me of an old house build on bedrock. There are messy rooms, dark corners and pictures hung at odd angles. But the foundation is as solid as time. It embeds in a deep peace with one’s place in the world, an idea I can understand even treasure. I’ve still never had it myself.
I don’t know Leonard Cohen’s music or writings well. I know about the man mostly from a fantastic set of liner notes that Tom Robbins wrote of Tower of Song, a 1995 tribute album. After hearing Cohen speak but mostly listen for an hour, I that inner quiet has as much conviction as a scream. How to get it and where from? I’d like to know because I feel I need it.
I’d like to know: Who do you feel like you could learn a lot from?