This Is For You - a poem by Leonard Cohen

The poem is by Leonard Cohen and the music is based on his song 'Who By Fire'. This one is for Adelle, who suggested the poem.

You can download my MP3 from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?mgynmzzthnj

Download the poem only:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ynt1o2nuwmn

'This Is For You' from Selected Poems 1956-68

This is for you
it is my full heart
it is the book I meant to read you
when we were old
Now I am a shadow
I am restless as an empire
You are the woman
who released me
I saw you watching the moon
you did not hesitate
to love me with it
I saw you honouring the windflowers
caught in the rocks
you loved me with them
On the smooth sand
between pebbles & shoreline
you welcomed me into the circle
more than a guest
All this happened
in the truth of time
in the truth of flesh
I saw you with a child
you brought me to his perfume
and his visions
without demand of blood
On so many wooden tables
adorned with food and candles
a thousand sacraments
which you carried in your basket
I visited my clay
I visited my birth
until I became small enough
and frightened enough
to be born again
I wanted you for your beauty
you gave me more than yourself
you shared your beauty
this I only learned tonight
as I recall the mirrors
you walked away from
after you had given them
whatever they claimed
for my initiation
Now I am a shadow
I long for the boundaries
of my wandering
and I move
with the energy of your prayer
and I move
in the direction of your prayer
for you are kneeling
like a bouquet
in a cave of bone
behind my forehead
and I move toward a love
you have dreamed for me

Category:

Education

Tags:

• leonard
• cohen
• ken
• middleton
• ukulele
• poem
• uke
• ukelele

[tSIXe666]

very nicely done!Cohen is one of the most brilliant writers to come to my ear's doorstep,welcomed in as a wonderous guest of concept and missed dearly every time he goes.you did his poetry justice though I would've prefered to hear it read by the man,himself(I think his writings are served best in his deep,melancholy tone.)but,still,this is a great offering..a postcard issued verbatim via two distinctly different aural purveyors..your interpretation speaks in the gaps where words sometimes fail.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you very much for your comments.

[lmgoose]

Beautifully read, and the musical accompaniment works with perfect intricacy. Thanks for putting this up.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks very much.

[Vlinderwei11]

Thank you for this wonderful poem. It is so difficult to say what means this poem end your beautiful recited to me .

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. With all my respect to you.

Thank you again .

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you very much for the comment.

[wovokanarchy]

How GAY!

[kasslemon]

Beautiful!

[notesone12]

what crap



[margnida5]

One of the most beatiful recitations I ever heard. Amazing!!!