2009/06/07 New York
The hills
My heart will be hers
For some reason I had missed Leonard Cohen's Book Of Longing:
"I can't make the hills/ The system is shot/ I'm living on pills/ For which I thank G-d
I followed the course/ From chaos to art/ Desire the horse/ Depression the cart
I sailed like a swan/ I sank like a rock/ But time is long gone/ Past my laughing stock
My page was too white/ My ink was too thin/ The day wouldn't write/ What the night penciled in
My animal howls/ My angel's upset/ But I'm not allowed/ A trace of regret
For someone will use/ What I couldn't be/ My heart will be hers/ Impersonally
She'll step on the path/ She'll see what I mean/ My will cut in half/ And freedom between
For less than a second/ Our lives will collide/ The endless suspended/ The door open wide
Then she will be born/ To someone like you/ What no one has done/ She'll continue to do
I know she is coming/ I know she will look/ And that is the longing/ And this is the book"
It's perhaps not Cohen's best song, but there is something I love about this poem.
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31 comments 
Arnon
It IS great, thanks!At least, that kind of poetry I can appreciate and comprehend:
“The day wouldn't write / What the night pencilled in”
(Wonderful image)
“The day wouldn't write / What the night pencilled in”
(Wonderful image)
@All
In today's 'De Morgen' is a 'jokerbon' available. If you missed 'De Asielzoeker' ,then you can order it with this coupon untill 30/06.my ink was too thin
Most longings go unfulfilled. This is the word’s wistful implication. (sentences discarded by Delillo)Once I bought Leonards book and I have taken it to the school, but I was not able to make it to the lesson, I just sat in a corridor whole day and read till the night, when the cleaning lady made me go home. It was beutifull.
I hope there are many such books.
I hope there are many such books.
Mr. Arnon Grunberg, your home page linked to a Masterclass and one of your students' short stories. Somehow the link is gone (or perhaps I can no longer find it). But what I wanted to post there was: could you share some thoughts as to why you picked that story/what you enjoyed about it?
Tabatha
If I remember correctly I gave a masterclass "writing fiction". We went to a boxing school where the students enjoyed some boxing lessons. Well some of them enjoyed the boxing lessons.Anyhow all (at least most) information about this master class can be found here, including the link to the story you claim has disappeared: http://www.arnongrunberg.com/work/199
Thank you for the link. I'd still be interested to hear why you selected that particular story.
Tabatha
All participants wrote a short story. Of all the stories I like dthis story the best. May I ask you why you are interested in this?Andrea
My dear, how are you?The last time I saw you you told me you were going to make me famous in Brno.
Forgive me for being impatient, but am I famous in Brno already?
In this economy I need all the help I can get.
To learn.
Arnon
How far reaches your ambition? How famous do you want to get? You are already considered to be the writer of the last decade in the dutch speaking contries. Do you want to become an icon?How important is your relationship to us, women of the blog,to obtain that goal. Do you consider us as an essential part of your strategy?
arnon
Dear arnon, my life is beautifull.About your fame- I made you famous in small circle of friends, but when it comes to big thing we would have to discuss my pay.
it was lovely meeting you, everyone enjoys the toilete story.
Andrea
Please, make the circle bigger and we will meet again. Inside or outside a toilet.Mieke
Do you really think my relationship with Andrea can be compared to let's say my relationship with you? No, my dear. Andrea has a special place in my heart. I hate to tell you this, but it is the truth.arnon
wow, you must be the first person to use me to get famous. now I see my existence as a precious one.I am going to buy some turquoise to celebrate that fact.
Arnon
Well, my sweety, it's a relief for me that you actually have place in your heart for people. I would have hated it if al your relationships remained as distant as our one.Mieke
My agenda is booked till 2011.But if you start saving money I can pencil you in for a hour or two in April 2012.
arnon
is there some free date for me to book this year? concerning the special place in your heart , and your fame, you know.Mister Grunberg (May I call you Arnon?) I just realized - that story has probably been on your site for ages and you're wondering why my sudden interest. Well, two days ago, for a very brief moment, your homepage bars (the four horizontal ones) linked to this master class topic and so as I was passing by, I clicked on it. Then read the story and was interested. Maybe it was a glitch.
Arnon
Much obliged. Thanks.Andrea
A little warning. Arnon will hate me for this one:He's a terrible tease and a flirt. Even a very successful one. Amazing don't you think so? For such a small and ugly man.Now he's propably going to ask me to shut up again.
mieke
and who wouldnt. you talk for him way too much.Tabatha
I see. And what were your thoughts on the story?Mieke
Jealousy is a terrible thing.Andrea
In Brno?Your flirting makes me smile, not jealous. Even if I would be, I think a little jealousy now and then is a positive thing.
I don't think april 2012 is an appropriate time for me, maybe 2015?
I don't think april 2012 is an appropriate time for me, maybe 2015?
Anrea
Really? Sometimes I have that urge to blurb, an itch that needs being scratched. All , a natural thing to do.arnon
anywhere I can get by price of one liter of my blood. that should be about 400 km from brno.Mister Grunberg, I feel a little uncomfortable commenting on someone else's story. I liked the first two sentences. Her choice of form was interesting, but then - and as there's always a but, I was interested in hearing your view.
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