Alexandra leaving

弟弟的豆瓣收藏里有这张CD，CD的封面就很吸引我，一张忧郁的脸，一个沧桑的老男人。他是个诗人，也是个作家，出唱片，画册，还写小说。这张专辑发行于2002年，被认为是：An exquisite portrait of one of popular music's most influential and enduring artists. An mesmerizing collection of epic songs. Cohen1934年生于加拿大蒙特利尔，9岁丧父，17岁进入麦吉尔大学，开始写诗，并组织了一个叫做Buckskin Boys的三重唱组合 , 27的时候他已经出版了两本诗集，小有名气。后来他旅居希腊，继续着写作，但写作和宁静的生活不能平息Cohen内心的激情。"You tend to gather around you when you write a novel. You need a woman in your life. It's nice to have some kids around, 'cause there's always food. It's nice to have a place that's clean and orderly. I had those things and then I decided to be a songwriter."

Alexandra leaving是我最喜欢的一首歌，歌受希腊诗人Constantine P. Cavafy 的"The God Forsakes Antony"的启发而作。

The God Forsakes Antony

When suddenly, at the midnight hour,
An invisible troupe is heard passing
With exquisite music, with shouts --
Your fortune that fails you now, your works
That have failed, the plans of your life
That have all turned out to be illusions, do not mourn in vain.
As if long prepared, as if courageous,
Bid her farewell, the Alexandria that is leaving.
Above all do not be fooled, do not tell yourself
It was a dream, that your ears deceived you;
Do not stoop to such vain hopes.
As if long prepared, as if courageous,
As it becomes you who have been worthy of such a city,
Approach the window with firm step,
And with emotion, but not
With the entreaties and complaints of the coward,
As a last enjoyment listen to the sounds,
The exquisite instruments of the mystical troupe,
And bid her farewell, the Alexandria you are losing.

Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)


洪晃在她的《我的非正常生活》里多次提到Cohen的歌，在讲述自己失败的婚姻时，也引用了这首Alexandra leaving, 下面是她的译文。

夜晚突然寒冷
爱神准备离去
艾丽姗塔在他的肩膀上
悄悄传过你心灵的哨兵
这不是戏法,感情的幻想
这不是清晨能够驱使的梦幻
所以
去和将离开的艾丽姗塔告别吧
然后再和失去的艾丽姗塔说再见

她曾经躺在你的绸缎上
她的吻曾经唤醒你的早晨
不要说这一切都是幻想
不要用这种低级的手段
当这一切即将发生
坚定地走到窗口前，感受一下
明亮的音乐是艾丽姗塔的笑声
你最初的承诺又会出现
和她一起度过的夜晚是你的幸运
而你的幸运使你崭新
不要选择懦夫的借口
躲藏在原因和结果后面
去和将离开的艾丽姗塔告别吧
然后再和失去的艾丽姗塔说再见