Yes. True enough. Euterpe, Erato and their sisters have been found in the company of some very esteemed poets/lyricists/musicians. Although, even those we consider to be 'of less genius' than Leonard, have been struck by the muse as well.Are muses attracted to genius? Perhaps... Mystery to me.
My comment re: his lifestyle being his 'muse', was more in that his life is a well-spring from which he can draw. Admittedly, some poetry, or scraps thereof, have been sitting in a drawer for twenty years, then the muse hits, and three songs come from one of his scribbled drafts of a poem. Where does inspiration come from? Who knows?
This has been discussed in the forum before, and it's a conversation that could bring us back to the starting point. Who knows, Lizzy. If you had the time, on Hydra, to kick back and write about any of your experiences, you too, might be so inspired. Being in Greece helps, I'm sure, to draw the attention of a muse.
These days, exposure, exposure, exposure seems to be the most important aspect of 'selling' one's product. The overly exposed, who are selling millions of CDs, have likely never been visited by a muse. Just a stylist, a makeup artist, and an indefatigable manager/agent.
These things are a mystery. So many little coincidences, being at the right place at the right time, etc. help in the making of a work ... well, work. It seems that right now, Leonard is receiving much more exposure than he has in many years. Not just within the 'Cohen community', but in the kind of circumstance (Indigo) that he may not have participated in, in the past.
Whatever it is that makes Leonard's pen write, is good enough for me. As long as he doesn't dishonour whichever muse it is that visits him, he'll be alright. And I don't think Leonard is silly enough to dishonour his muse.
See you,
Linda.