Tuesday, September 18, 2012

How the light gets in (To my dear friend Barb)...


My blog attempt to move a previous post messed things up -- so if you're looking for the one on Rights, GO here

OTHERWISE, be sure to view the beautiful posting 'Meetings and Miracles' by my friend Noor in the post just below which was meant to stay on top.

MEANTIME, tonight, I'm haunted by the words and music of "Anthem" by Leonard Cohen
I really don't know much about this writer/composer/singer -- yet this one set of poetry has struck a chord of recognition with me. So universal as to time, people, situation...this poem itself seems to LET IN THE LIGHT. The words and music provide such a resonance with people from so many backgrounds and ages. And somehow it's so true to the darks and lights of reality -- yet comforting because there's room in this song for both! You may want to hear and watch Cohen sing with a CLICK here or just hear him sing watching beautiful natural background with the feeling of changing weather -- looking at the storm while watching for the glimmers of light imaging your own storms and 'glimmers' with a CLICK here. (These were the two places I listened to earlier on Monday evening with my son, husband and a very dear friend who reminded me of 'Anthem' recently.)

So, Barb, this is sent with prayers to you for your upcoming journey...

"Anthem"

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.

5 comments:

CN said...

Along with the theme of light, don't miss this amazing resounding
few lines, like a theology to me of the gathering of us ALL...

Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

robert said...

Greetings,

This is beautiful.

Thank you so much.

All good wishes,

robert

Noor said...

Beautiful. Thank youu. :)

Barbara Thompson said...

Thank you for this wonderful post; strangely, I was reading an unusually profound mystery by Louise Penney: A Trick of the Light that deals with the same theme in such a profound way.

Here's the link to Leonard Cohen singing this song on Youtube; multiple versions, this is the most watched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e39UmEnqY8&feature=related

CN said...

Dear Robert and Dear Noor: So glad you came by and enjoyed this post.

Barbara, dear friend, so glad you liked and also added the additional link! I will look forward to watching/listening soon...

And I sure look forward to reading this book soon as well...