ANTHEM

Leonard Cohen’s Anthem.  
I am  moved every time I listen to this piece. His unconventional deep voice and crisp pronunciation ,  melody bordering on recitation.  It is profound. 
 
How many of us can identify with the dove that is never free.  That has a great responsibility to the world in sharing its timid self.  The dove of peace and unity.  The dove that finds the olive branch,  inspiring confidence in the inhabitants of the mammoth ark .  The quiet anchor.
 
The crack that appears in everything , but is the only way for the light to get in.  Earlier, my (youthful) thinking was that once a paper is crumpled and torn , it can never be restored to its former crispness.  At fifty+ I go with the Japanese philosophy of  Kintsugi that cherishes every broken artefact and glued-up vase for its uniqueness , history and experiences.  **
 
Ring the bells that still can ring.   Forget your perfect offering.   Do what you can .  Do it whole heartedly.   How simple and devoid of pressure.  Something we all can do as a matter of course. 
 
Leonard Cohen often took months and years over a song.  Chipping away till it was good to go.  He was in awe of other song writers who dashed off their numbers overnight.  Interesting !   To us he is an icon and musical guru. In his eyes, at that time, he perceived himself as “slow” and not good enough. 
 
Thank you M  for your random share and our chance meeting on that Melbourne-Dubai flight back in 2017 PC (Pre-covid) ?
 
Leonard Cohen’s Anthem.  My anthem too.

Anthem     
Leonard Cohen

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, 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, and 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
They're going to hear from me
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
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