like a bird on a wire

 I snapped this photo yesterday before sunset because the crows were all lined up there on the right. This city has magical light this time of year, in my opinion, and that is one of the reasons artists flock (get it?) here. This Leonard Cohen song from 1969 has always appealed to me:

Like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free
Like a worm on a hook
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee

and more sorrow

And now Leonard Cohen has died. Remember when Dancing Jen and I
went to his concert in Oakland? It was more money than either of us could
afford and I've never told Husbando exactly how much it cost. But now I
would pay double that. Poet, genius, singer, deep and good soul. I will
play his CD soon, after I cry some more. RIP and thank you, Mr. Cohen.

And my gratitude for this dear Dancing Jen:

You think that their
dying is the worst
thing that could happen.

Then they stay dead

--From "Distressed Haiku" by Donald Hall

trying and succeeding

Last Sunday morning Dancing Jen and I had coffee at La Boulange and she
allowed me to snap her tat which I love. She and I paid a gazillion $$$$
(each) to see Leonard Cohen in Oakland a few years ago and his "Bird
on a Wire" has always been one of my faves. In fact, just now, I removed
the French for Dummies CD and inserted The Essential Leonard Cohen
disc #1 - Suzanne, So Long Marianne (for Tanya), Famous Blue Raincoat...

shall I wear the blue raincoat?

Leonard Cohen's World Tour is coming to the Paramount Theatre
and I am going with Dancing Jen. She worked and clicked and
secured two fabulous tickets for the first night, April 13th. It sold
out in hours and they scheduled the next night which also sold
out at once. And in this economy, imagine. I have been playing
his music constantly lately and my, he is indeed the poet. Lucky
me and thanks again, dear Jen!