Nora ye Catte

I have a middle-aged neighbor named Michel, who lives across the way here on rue de Rouen. Yesterday afternoon, when I was lugging my bike down my front stairs, he beckoned to me, and crossed the street, wanting to talk.

I was headed off to Expozine, the November book, comics and alternative art fair. But he had a question for me.

Since I spoke English, I must know something about Leonard Cohen, the poet and songwriter who had recently died, right? Then what did these lyrics mean? With a little fiddling, he brought them up for me on his smart phone.

“But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya”

(You have to imagine this conversation in his French, with a little English, and my very bad French.)

So, what was happening here, he asked. Love is positive, right? So why was someone in love shooting his lover? And what did “outdrew ya” mean?

With expressive hand gestures, I conjured duels to the death, and scenes from cowboy movies. “Draw” meant pull your gun. “Outdrew” meant you pulled your gun and shot faster than the other person.

He looked puzzled. How did love involve shooting? I came up with the image of Cupid’s arrow. The biggest hurdle was to explain how love wasn’t always a totally positive situation. A relationship can involve conflict.

I think he understood. He slapped me on the back, and thanked me for making things clear. I was glad I was able to do that. Talking together, we were waving hands around, and practically shouting. I wondered what the neighbours thought.

Coming back from Expozine, the November book and alternative art fair, I thought I’d take a detour and visit Leonard Cohen’s house at the corner of Boulevard Saint Laurent and rue Marie Anne in Montreal. My friend used to have an apartment around the corner, so I knew this place well. Never saw Mr. Cohen, however.

This was 5:30 pm. November 13. From my point of view, the place smelt strongly of strawberry licorice. Probably an offering.

I had played an album of his earlier work when my Dad was sick, and now it reminds me of that time. Hard to play it any more, but I like his later tune, Tower of Song.

This is a quilt of Cohen memorabilia and testimonials hung up at the site.