Cohen and Hayes

I’ve been reading Terrance Hayes’ American Sonnet for my Past and Future Assassin and listening to Leonard Cohen’s songs, particularly Hallelujah and Suzanne. Some of the sonnets are relentless, pedal to the metal all the way, though there’s always some breathing in them, between poems if not within a poem. There’s a lot of energy and intensity. Leonard Cohen lines, some grab me, some rest easy. Both artists’ work pull and push, move me. Neither lets go, drops the rope. Even after the work ends.