leonardcohenforum.com

https://www.poetseers.org/spiritual-and ... index.html

"If I didn't have your love..."
'I would cease to be...'

Take a look at the link above. I suggest that this is the lady (and the poem) who inspired this deeply beautiful song of Leonard Cohen's, from the 'You Want It Darker' album.
The mystic mood and theme are sublimely similar in that oh so Solomon way.
And, Leonard was very fond of the Spanish Conversos poetry, particularly Teresa and her buddy Juan.

Daniel Ladinsky has translated it from Spanish...sounds right to me...and I am keen to hear from Spanish speaking members of the forum familiar with her work as to the accuracy of this translation. It just took me immediately to

...if I didn't have your love to make it real.

https://www.poetseers.org/spiritual-and ... index.html

this one's for Leonard...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWJ0QUv ... KA&index=2



MatJ

...sure it's a love song; and it's more. The 'more' that always transcends...

If I Didn't Have Your Love

If the sun would lose its light
And we lived an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
That’s how it would be
My life would seem to me
If I didn’t have your love
To make it real

If the stars were all unpinned
And a cold and bitter wind
Swallowed up the world
Without a trace
Oh well that’s where I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I couldn’t lift the veil
And see your face

And if no leaves were on the tree
And no water in the sea
And the break of day
Had nothing to reveal
That’s how broken I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didn’t have your love
To make it real

If the sun would lose its light
And we lived an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
If the sea were sand alone
And the flowers made of stone
And no one that you hurt
Could ever heal
Well that’s how broken I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didn’t have your love
To make it real

(Leonard Cohen, You Want It Darker album)

Matt, well said, such it is for many of Cohen's Poems/Songs/Words/Thoughts. One begins listening to the song from one perspective and ends somewhere else, someplace transcendent.

...sure it's a love song; and it's more. The 'more' that always transcends...