Wear a hope pin

This has been a sad week for a number of reasons. I'm deeply saddened by the loss of Leonard Cohen, who wrote my absolute favorite song. I'm also sad, but more angry, about Tuesday's self-inflicted wound, one that may fester for years.

I'm grateful that many are rising to the challenge of offering paths to hope. Here's an example from Twitter. [full disclosure, I'm a long-time member of the Academy.]

Maria Popova ‏@brainpicker  2h2 hours ago

Verses for Hope: I've teamed up with @POETSorg to host an emergency pop-up poetry reading on Sunday—join us https://www.facebook.com/events/1734557210198912/ …

0 replies21 retweets50 likes

The wonderful Studs Terkel wrote a book called Hope Dies Last, Keeping Faith in Troubled Times. Last (for today), but not least, remember the wisdom of the Zen teaching:

"When the student asked, 'I am very discouraged. What should I do?' Zen master Soen Nakagawa replied, 'Encourage others.'"

One way to encourage others these days is to wear a safety pin. Another is to sing an

Anthem

Leonard Cohen

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 ...

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.

Songwriters: Leonard Cohen

Anthem lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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