THE LIFE OF LEONARD...

Leonard Cohen was born in 1934 in Montreal to a middle-class Jewish family, and he was left a considerable inheritance after his father's death when he was nine. As a teenager, he began playing the guitar and exploring his interest in folk music. He formed his first band shortly after beginning his studies at McGill University in Montreal.

Leonard Cohen wrote his first selection of poetry as he was finishing his BA at McGill in 1955. During this time, the Beat movement had begun which was centered in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angelos. 'Beatnik's, as they were often called, veered away from the conventions of mainstream society and, instead, focused on personal freedom and expression enhanced by self-realization through mediums such as music, drugs, sex, and spirituality. A lot of literature arose from the Beat Generation, and Leonard Cohen was influenced by this movement greatly. His poetry reflects a fascination and hunger to understand and expose the greater mysteries and falsities of our times. In his work, he explores mythologies, traditions, spirituality, sensuality and eroticism, and social criticism.

After attending graduate school at Columbia University in New York for a short time, he returned to Montreal and became a professional writer. His career as a writer, songwriter, and musician has spanned several decades beginning in 1956, when his first collection of poetry was published, to the present day. He has published many books of poems and novels, with the most recent being The Book of Longing, which was published in 2006.

In 1966, he spent time in New York at the debaucherous Chelsea Hotel among the likes of Andy Warhol, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and other singers and artists. Shortly after, he began setting his own poetry to music as well as writing song lyrics. His first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, was released in 1968. His career as a musician was central to his life for the next 25 years, and he had produced 14 albums by 2002.

For the later years of the 1990's, he lived as a Zen monk studying Buddhism at the Zen Center of Mount Baldy near Los Angelos. He began to feel a reprieve from the melancholy that has plagued him the majority of his life. Since then, he has continued to release more albums, as well as toured and performed.

CONTEXT: 'SUZANNE'

I have gained a better understanding of Leonard Cohen's poem Suzanne after I read an interview with Suzanne Verdal regarding the time she and Leonard spent together, which had served as an inspiration to his poem (http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/verdal.html). In 1965, she had recently separated from Armand Vaillancourt, who was a mutual friend of theirs. Suzanne and her daughter were living on the waterfront of the St. Lawrence waterway, and Leonard would go to visit her there where they would drink tea and eat mandarin oranges. Suzanne had a strong creative drive, and at that time, she enjoyed making clothing out of items that she had salvaged from the Salvation Army. She and Leonard would often light a candle together; she would say prayers, and they would discuss spirituality, art, and inspiration for their work together.

INTERPRETATION: 'SUZANNE'

This poem is a very personal account of Leonard's introspections during the time he spent with Suzanne by the water. The river seems to be a symbol that connects all elements of this poem and adds to the imagery he is trying to create for the reader. The river and the boats going by, make the reader imagine a journey. He frequently talks about travel. He writes, 'and you want to travel with her, you want to travel blind'. This may be referring to this desire to connect with her on a more intimate level, though he was unable to take that step. Perhaps it was due to his respect for her involvement with their mutual friend. His longing for her though, is apparent when he writes, 'for you've touched her perfect body with your mind'. He even seems to believe that the feeling is mutual when he writes, 'for she's touched your perfect body with her mind'.

His longing for Suzanne and an appreciation or idealization of her is central to the poem. They obviously shared a unique connection. In the last stanza, she seems to have an insight that she reveals to Leonard 'while Suzanne holds the mirror', perhaps reflecting to him the plight of the children by the water. They are 'leaning out for love', and I imagine the love they are asking for is money and that they are poor and begging.

The references to Jesus at first seem a bit out of place in this poem. However, a closer look reveals a comparison between Leonard's longing for a deeper connection with Suzanne and a believer's longing for connection with Jesus. He depicts Jesus as someone who appears to be god-like 'when he walked upon the water', but 'he himself was broken'. He creates a metaphor of Jesus as a sailor, which also speaks of travel. If he is comparing Jesus with Suzanne, they are both sailors and both on their own journey. It seems he is suggesting that even though both of them, Jesus and Suzanne, may give the impression of offering that special solace, it is actually just a facade. Both of them may be unable to provide what it is that the seeker is longing for.

INTERPRETATION: 'WHEN I HAVE NOT RAGE'

This piece of writing isn't a traditional poem. It may be considered a piece of prose or perhaps free verse poetry. It seems to be a stream of conscious thoughts and words spoken to God. He begins by mentioning that when he has 'not rage or sorrow, and you depart from me, then I am most afraid'. This reminds me of how likely many people are to pray mostly during times of great distress. When fear overtakes him, he is desperate in his need for God. The desperation of a frightened child is described when he writes, 'I rush to you as a child at night breaks into its parents' room'. His fear is quelled when he thinks of how he belongs to God. He writes, 'my heart sings of your longing for me, and my thoughts climb down to marvel at your mercy'. His thoughts climb down so that he is able to look up at God, to worship and admire. He isn't always able to do this. Sometimes when he isn't angry or full of sorrow, he forgets. It seems that this poem may be a reminder to himself to not forget God because through him he feels solace and relief from his fears.

THOUGHTS FOR DISCUSSION...

How do you think the influences of the Beat movement are visible in Leonard Cohen's Poem, Suzanne?

What criticisms does the poem Suzanne pose about Christianity? Are these criticisms justified?

SOURCES

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/57467/Beat-movement

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2001/oct/14/features.magazine37

http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/verdal.html

http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/bookind.html

Bennett, Donna & Brown, Russell. A New Anthology of Canadian Literature. Ontario: Oxford
University Press, 2002. p. 696-703.