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At the Crack of Dawn: a poem after Leonard Cohen

The Poet of the Week for W3 Weekly Prompt #69 is A. J. Wilson (Ange), Poetsatinta. Here are her prompt guidelines.

Ange’s prompt guidelines
Below are the first 14 lines of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Anthem’;
 Select any two or three of Cohen’s lines from below and incorporate them into a poem of your own;

1. You must: keep Cohen’s words in the original order, but you may change the punctuation;

2. Your poem should be no less than five lines and no more nthan 20 lines.

Anthem lyrics
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

At the Crack of Dawn

That’s how the moonlight gets in | Photo©️Lesley Scoble
 There is a crack in the window 
A crack in the door
There is a crack in a broken heart,
an old work of art
and a crack on the floor

There are cracks in old walls
where wildflowers will grow
In loud thunderclaps 
and dry earth below,

At the crack of dawn
drink coffee in cracked cups
Stretch up and yawn
Pull the curtains back undrawn (they’re made of satin)
Go to church for a matin
 Ring the bells that still can ring
Open your eyes
There is a crack, a crack in everything
There’s gold in a sunrise
and the birds will sing
That’s how the light gets in
~
Lesley Scoble (with a little help from Leonard Cohen),  August 2023
Dry earth | Photo©️Lesley Scoble

My thanks to David, Skeptic Kaddish, host for the W3 Weekly Prompt #69.
Special thanks to Poet of the Week, A. J. Wilson (Ange), Poetsatinta for this remarkable challenge to write a poem to include 2 to 3 immortal lines (in order) from Leonard Cohen’s legendary song Anthem.

There are cracks in old walls where wildflowers will grow | Photo©️Lesley Scoble

I was so lucky to have front row seats at Leonard Cohen’s last concert tour to London. My brother was his Tour Manager. Here is a snapshot of my brother with the legend, in rehearsal.

My brother with Leonard Cohen

The legendary Leonard Cohen sings Anthem, live at his London concert

Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright, (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.

lesleyscoble

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30 responses to “At the Crack of Dawn: a poem after Leonard Cohen”

  7. Lesley, I love how, in this poem, you explored all the variety of ‘cracks’ we face, I think Leonard would be a fan – you were so lucky to have seen this great man and you also are making my task of selecting POW that bit harder, thanks for sharing ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, Heather! 💕

      When I saw him live, I didn’t realise at the time how marvellous it was, nor how much it would influence me. My memory treasures the performances (I saw more than one). I don’t want to make you envious, though. 😉💚

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