Come over to the window, my little darling
I'd like to try to read your palm
I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy
Before I let you take me home
--Leonard Cohen, So Long, Marianne

One of the voices from the 1960s that captured my attention as a young lad was that of Leonard Cohen. I used to listen to him croon his literary inspirations with a deep baritone voice while writing my own somber existential musings.

They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
For trying to change the system from within
I'm coming now,
I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
--Leonard Cohen, First We Take Manhattan

Cohen was born in Montreal where he began his artistic endeavours as a poet and published a book of poetry in 1956. In the 60s, he went on to pursue a musical career, releasing his masterpiece Songs of Leonard Cohen in 1967. His songs were filled with fluid folksy rhythms and literary imagery that moved my spirit as a teenager when I first took a liking to his music and writing.

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
--Leonard Cohen, Dance Me to the End of Love

Montreal it seemed to me was a city of traditional pleasures, and the good life. It had a joie de vivre that included the leisurely enjoyment of great food. Anthony Bourdain passed through this city as shown in his Parts Unknown “Montreal” episode. After a bit of research, I found out about a deli called Schwartz's that was said to serve excellent smoked meat in a sandwich. Given that I’m a carnivore, this was highly relevant to my carnivorous interests. It would also be a great excuse, I surmised, to explore and discover more of beautiful Montreal.

You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half-crazy
But that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
— Leonard Cohen, Suzanne

Montreal has an old style charm, not only because of its colonial past and architecture but also in its approach to certain aspects of culture. At times it made me feel like I was in a different country altogether.

Traveling lady, stay awhile
Until the night is over
I'm just a station on your way
I know I am not your lover
--Leonard Cohen, Winter Lady

A lot of the art I encountered brought back memories of my youth when I was more fully immersed in the art scene. You could find me sketching madly somewhere in town, or in the porch hammering furiously at an old typewriter with my beatnik reveries.

Oh, let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
Oh, dance me to the end of love
--Leonard Cohen, Dance Me to the End of Love

I finally found the deli and noticed to my surprise that there was a lineup to get in. It was long and slow moving, but thankfully, I noticed someone go through a side door where you could order takeout instead of sitting inside the joint. That’s precisely what I did. There were benches on the street where you could just sit and enjoy a snack while checking out the lively street scene.

Wednesday, 2:30 PM

I kept an eye on the line, which had barely moved by the time I was done.

I admit that I also had an ulterior motive for coming this way besides the excellent food. I wanted to pay homage to the master himself who was truly an inspiration. This nearby mural was placed here in his honour.

Tower of Songs, Hommage à Leonard Cohen

I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm
Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you
--Leonard Cohen, Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye