(Image of Berwyn, Illinois, U.S.A. provided by DWB)
“Show me the place where the word became a man.”
– Leonard Cohen, “Show Me the Place”
Poetry can create
and does create
urban
affection, the tiny,
brief
reaching
out
to one’s fellow
humans
that us city
folks (the vast
majority
of the planet
now) need to
indulge in so we
can remain
connected
to one another,
our fellow
humanity,
in a real way,
however strange or
however much
a stranger. Whenever
people compliment
one of my beautiful
animals (Siberian Huskies
or pit bulls), I take it
personally
and return
the favor.
Walking across
the parking lot,
I resolved
that I
would continue
to do so. And I turned
the Leonard Cohen
song way up
on my phone
and placed it
near my ear
one more
time
for now.
Dr. Dale Williams Barrigar is a poet whose own poetry transformed his own life: suddenly, and then gradually. It’s good enough for him.
Saragun Springs 
Dale
The connection with Cohen is wonderful. And this sums up the feeling of freedom needing to be actively pursued always, lest it be lost, lest one winds up as, to quoth L.C., a lazy bastard in a suit.
Thank you!
Leila
LikeLike
Leila
Lazy bastard in a suit is a great Cohen quote and it comes from a song that’s probably in my top ten all-time fave LC songs!
I’ve wanted to write a good poem about Leonard for a long time (ever since he passed on into the great beyond) and I do feel like I finally achieved that feat with this piece.
As always, thanks for all the support and inspiration. It will never never never, ever be forgotten and I mean that in a million different ways.
Dale
LikeLike
Dale, the importance of connection with others is beautifully illustrated by the example of strangers complimenting your dog. This is my opportunity to compliment your poem, mick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the compliment, Mick!
And thanks very much for your comments on my poetry from yesterday.
I really enjoyed hearing the truth of your reactions and I wrote a longer response under my poem from yesterday, so check it out whenever you can or want to!
Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
“however strange or / however much/ a stranger”. Twelve syllables a person might now carry with them, an addition to the invisible luggage, there alongside the resonant marvels of any number of Great Poets I could list. A fine, fine read, Dale.
Geraint
LikeLike