Hey, Lenny … may I call you “Lenny”? Did you hear your hometown is putting together several events, including a gala evening, to honour your 75th year on this earth? And launching a book in which 75 top-notch poets (including Margaret Atwood) tell us poetically how you’ve affected them? While celebrating your three-quarter-century mark is exciting, the events also serve as fundraisers for a Poet-In-Residence position at your old alma mater. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could be there?
Pulled together by J.J. Locke, president of the Foundation for Public Poetry, the various tributes to Leonard Cohen start with a book launch/reading tomorrow evening at Westmount High and culminate in a gala evening at the Atwater Library Auditorium on – you guessed it – your birthday. September 21st. Designed to highlight a native son’s contributions as a poet, balladeer and songwriter, the gala evening will feature a series of fundraising events including launch and sales of the book, a silent auction and poetry recitals, all in the effort to create a Leonard Cohen Poet-In-Residence position at Westmount High.
“The Foundation For Public Poetry is honouring Leonard Cohen’s work on his 75th birthday because he is deserving of a little recognition for his 50-year contribution to poetry,” says Locke. “Moreover, the poets who have composed works based upon Cohen’s inspiration are also deserving of recognition. Cohen’s birthday is a wonderful opportunity to promote poetry and poets.”
The book, Leonard Cohen – You’re Our Man, features poetic responses to your poetry and songs. The Foundation received more than 200 submissions which it then whittled down to 75. And yes, Peg Atwood has submitted a poem called “Setting Leonard To Music”. A first printing of 800 copies has been ordered. Of course, your copy would be free but others can order the book at www.publicpoetry.wordpress.com. Or they can come down for the readings tomorrow and Sept. 21.
Not only did Atwood submit a poem for your anthology, she also signed the original and it will be part of the gala evening’s silent auction. Yes, Lenny, you will be there in spirit, thanks to your contribution to the silent auction which, I’m sure, everyone will be anxious to bid on. Still, the sight of you standing beside your limited edition print “Back in Montreal” would send bids skyrocketing.
And let’s not forget the poetry recitals, brought together through the hard work of Jan Jorgensen (she of the lawn chair soiree poetry readings), and featuring readers selected through previously-held auditions to determine who had the necessary chops. You should’ve been there, Lenny, on that sultry Saturday night in late August. From your former high school classmates to the newest acolytes looking for their master, the audition evening (at a cute little bistro on Park Avenue) ran the gamut: fun tributes, fawning invocations, rap renditions, and musical panegyrics.
Yes, you should’ve been there. But, not to despair. You can still catch the act when you surprise us all with your appearance at the gala evening. Relax. Have a glass of wine or two. Nibble on some cheese. Mingle with your adoring fans. And listen to how fellow poets have been inspired, uplifted by words and music from our very own Troubadour to a Troubled World. Lenny, may we hope to see you there?
The first Leonard Cohen: You’re Our Man book launch kicks off tomorrow evening, 7:30 pm, at Westmount High School Auditorium, while the gala evening takes place Sept. 21, 7 pm, at the Atwater Library Auditorium (1200 Atwater Ave.) Similar events are scheduled for Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton. For ticket information and other details, visit The Foundation for Public Poetry site.
