Inspiration from LC

Photo Credit: Old Ideas, LLC

In 2011 Leonard Cohen received the 2011 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature.

In his acceptance speech he spoke of how he had stayed up most of the night wondering what he might say to this “august assembly”. He went on to talk about poetry…

“When I was packing in Los Angeles to come here, I had a sense of unease because I’ve always felt some ambiguity about an award for poetry. Poetry comes from a place that no one commands and no one conquers. So I feel somewhat like a charlatan to accept an award for an activity which I do not command.”

He then said something which has stuck with me ever since I first heard it. And every now and again, when I’m wondering why I can’t conjure up the words I want to, or put them on paper in a way I feel I have done before, I can hear Leonard’s velvety smooth voice saying:

“I if I knew where the good songs came from I'd go there more often.”

You can read the whole speech here: (https://lnkd.in/gP_s_YUp)

Trust me, it’s worth it.