Λέοναρντ Κοέν: Σιωπή

Ύδρα, 1960: Μαριάν (Ιλέν) Γιένσεν, (18/5/1935 – 28/7/2016), ο γιος της Άξελ, ο Λέοναρντ και φίλοι (Πηγή)

Δώρο

Μου έλεγες πως η σιωπή
κοντεύει στη γαλήνη πιο πολύ από ’να ποίημα

αλλ’ αν για δώρο

σου ’φερνα σιωπή

(γιατί την ξέρω τη σιωπή)

θα μου ’λεγες

Σιωπή δεν είν’ αυτό

αυτό είναι κάποιο άλλο ποίημα

και θα μου την επέστρεφες.

Μετάφραση Τάκη Μενδράκου

(Διαγώνιος, Ιαν. - Απρ. 1975, σελ. 44)

*

So Long, Marianne
Songs Of Leonard Cohen" (1967)

Come over to the window, my little darling,
I'd like to try to read your palm.
I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy
before I let you take me home.
Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began
to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.

Well you know that I love to live with you,
but you make me forget so very much.
I forget to pray for the angels
and then the angels forget to pray for us.
Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

We met when we were almost young
deep in the green lilac park.
You held on to me like I was a crucifix,
as we went kneeling through the dark.

Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

Your letters they all say that you're beside me now.
Then why do I feel alone?
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
is fastening my ankle to a stone.

Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

For now I need your hidden love.
I'm cold as a new razor blade.
You left when I told you I was curious,
I never said that I was brave.

Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

Oh, you are really such a pretty one.
I see you've gone and changed your name again.
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside,
to wash my eyelids in the rain!

Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

(Πηγή)

*

Famous Blue Raincoat
Songs Of Love And Hate (1971)

It's four in the morning, the end of December
I'm writing you now just to see if you're better
New York is cold, but I like where I'm living
There's music on Clinton Street all through the evening

I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desert
You're living for nothing now, I hope you're keeping some kind of record

Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night that you planned to go clear
Did you ever go clear?

Ah, the last time we saw you you looked so much older
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder
You'd been to the station to meet every train, and
You came home without Lili Marlene

And you treated my woman to a flake of your life
And when she came back she was nobody's wife

Well I see you there with the rose in your teeth
One more thin gypsy thief
Well, I see Jane's awake
She sends her regards

And what can I tell you my brother, my killer
What can I possibly say?
I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you
I'm glad you stood in my way

If you ever come by here, for Jane or for me
Well, your enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free

Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes
I thought it was there for good so I never tried

And Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night that you planned to go clear

Sincerely, L Cohen

*

Λέοναρντ Κοέν
21 Σεπτεμβρίου 1934, Γουεστμάουντ, Καναδάς - 10 Νοεμβρίου 2016, Λος Άντζελες

Καναδοεβραίος. Γεννήθηκε στο Μόντρεαλ το 1934 και αποφοίτησε από το πανεπιστήμιο το 1955. Αγάπησε την 'Ελλάδα και έζησε πολύν καιρό στην Ύδρα.

Ποιητικές συλλογές:

Let Us Compare Mythologies, 1956. The Spice-Box of Earth, 1961, Flowers for Hitler, 1964. Parasites of Heaven, 1966. Selected Poems 1956–1968, 1968. The Energy of Slaves, 1972. Book of Mercy (πεζά ποιήματα / ψαλμοί), 1984. Stranger Music (επιλογή ποιημάτων και τραγουδιών), 1993. Book of Longing, 2006

Πεζά:

The Favourite Game (μυθιστόρημα), 1963. Beautiful Losers (μυθιστόρημα), 1966. Death of a Lady's Man (ποιήματα και πεζά) 1978.

Στα ελληνικά: 
Το αγαπημένο παιχνίδι (πρωτότυπος τίτλος: The Favourite Game), εκδ. Μελάνι, Αθήνα 2005.

Το βιβλίο του πόθου (πρωτότυπος τίτλος: Book of Longing), εκδ. Ιανός, Αθήνα 2008. ISBN 978-960-7827-88-3.

Η μουσική του ξένου: Επιλογή από ποιήματα και τραγούδια, (πρωτότυπος τίτλος: Stranger Music, μετάφραση: Λίνα Νικολακοπούλου), εκδ. Ιανός, Αθήνα 2008.

Υπέροχοι απόκληροι (πρωτότυπος τίτλος: Beautiful Losers), εκδ. Κέδρος, Αθήνα 2012.

Το βιβλίο του ελέους (πρωτότυπος τίτλος: Book of Mercy), εκδ. Περισπωμένη, 2013.