It was the mid 1980s and for the sum total of one evening I thought I was in love with him. But most of the time we were just very good friends. His name was Stan Easton.
I was in nursing school. My schedule was hectic and beyond busy. Stan called one day. I wasn’t at home. I often wondered if things would have been different had I been home to take that call. A few days later, he ran a tube from his car’s muffler into his bedroom and died.
Before his death, he had trouble sleeping. I loaned him a Judy Collins album to help him sleep. On it, Leonard Cohen’s song: Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye. He still had the album when he died. What I wanted to say to him then and still do, is exactly that — hey, that’s no way to say goodbye.
Although I fault you not for what you felt you had to do and I imagine your hair upon the pillow in an eternal “sleepy golden storm” … forever there, forever loved, forever remembered. “You know my love goes with you, as your love stays with me, it’s just the way it changes like the shoreline and the sea.”
I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
in city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
but now it’s come to distances and both of us must try,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye.
I’m not looking for another as I wander in my time,
walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme
you know my love goes with you as your love stays with me,
it’s just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea,
but let’s not talk of love or chains and things we can’t untie,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye.
I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
yes many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
in city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
but let’s not talk of love or chains and things we can’t untie,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye.
~Leonard Cohen~
As always…beautiful.
Thanks for this Renee. I hesitated to share, it’s not my usual uplifting post but it was something I had an urge to put on and so I followed that nudge anyway.
Lovely and sad poem, but the truth of a love that doesn’t die is a hopeful thing. Well constructed poem. Well chosed words and phrases. Excellent work!
Thanks for the kudos Jamie. I’ll pass them onto Leonard Cohen next time we bump into each other :). The words below the youtube video are the lyrics to Leonard Cohen’s “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye”. I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clearer.
What a lovely post…but even though sad, so beautifully written. Thanks so much for sharing :)
beautiful emotions,
heartfelt words.
how fun to read it aloud!
:)
thank you
thank you buttercup, you are a little wink from the Universe today. One of my very good friends is nicknamed Buttercup.
a lovely poem, although sad… thank for sharing, Beth :)
thank you Imagina … this is Leonard Cohen’s lyrics
hope that you have fun reading those poets who were here,
Happy Saturday!
;)
I sure did. Thank you Jingle.