“Poetry comes from a place that no one commands, that no one conquers. So I feel somewhat like a charlatan to accept an award for an activity which I do not command. In other words, if I knew where the good songs came from I would go there more often.” Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen’s acceptance speech below is, as we’d expect, powerful and deeply moving. His endless grace must be the reason the Muses favor him so in both his poetry and music. Though the speech is around 10 minutes long- its beauty and message are unforgettable and well-worth the time. He tells here some of the inspiration behind his finding his voice in his poetry. If that isn’t enough, he also reveals where his songs come from! He links both firmly to the Spanish people and culture that have enriched his path over the years. The end moved me to tears… Exquisite beauty. Happy to hear he will be releasing a new album next year, the first in 7 years. 
Truly amazing and inspiring. Thank you for posting this. The person who showed me my first chords on the guitar was gentleman from Mexico who would come over to our house to help my dad at his shop. I was 10 years old.
Gilberto
How beautiful…
our Muses come to us in many disguises.