Anthem

On this inauguration day

there are many around the world who take hope and I enjoy them

there are those who stand in opposition to the continued possibilities for rising fascism and I honor them

there are those with brokenness needing to heal and I support them

there are those who would worry about the imperfection of their art and I reassure them

yet

where I stand is

on my own,

holding this berry branch,

torn at the root,

waking to a bell clearly sounding,

sitting on a cracking chair,

amidst the genocides of the world,

on an island Huxley traveled,

with the master falling,

now





Leonard Cohen's Anthem:

The birds they sang at the break of day
Start again I heard them say
Don't dwell on what has passed away
or what is yet to be.

Ah the wars they will be fought again
The holy dove, she will be caught again
bought and sold and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood of every government--
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

You can add up the parts but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march, there is no drum
Every heart, every heart to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.