Limnos, Greece, September 2009, photos and a few words by Antti Filppu, otherwise it's all Cohen's. And ass above, so below are some alternatives for the three verses and the middle chorus, most of it was written and arranged for Suzanne in January 2010. The old poets did this all the time, but there are differing views whether or not changing the verses for legendary pop-songs is a good or a bad idea. Either way I couldn't help it
And Christ He was a sailor,
When He walked upon the water,
And He spent a long time watching
From His lonely wooden tower,
And when He knew for certain
Only drowning men could see Him,
He said: "all men will be sailors,
Until the sea shall free them",
But He himself was broken,
Long before the sky would open,
Forsaken, almost human,
As He sank beneath your wisdom
Like a stone.
And you want to travel with Him,
You want to travel blind,
And you think maybe you'll trust Him,
For you've touched His perfect body
(Etheric) with your mind.
The first lines were too much, I had to change them back to the way they were. Now Anne takes you down to her place near the crossroad(s), where you'll hear the trams go by.....
Now Suzanne takes you down
To her place near the river
Where you'll hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you think she's half-crazy
If that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And when you mean to tell her
You may have no love to give her
She leaves you with a longing
And she lets the morning answer
That all lovers will be chosen
Here Anne wants to meet you
Lovers dream with their heart-strings
And she's moving as(s) a dancer
With a nymphlike play along there
And the sun pours down like honey
On our Lady of Romance
And she shows you where to look
Among the blue eyes and the roses
There are many lonely hours
There are lovely, quiet mornings
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way for ever
While Anne leaves you longing
"This picture was taken in September 2007 on Paros, the village of Naousa. We were having a good time, and I would lose my heart for Greece. All the others were drinking cold frappe despite my warnings (as they were not professional coffee drinkers like me). But now I have chosen this photo to represent Xenia Oecumenica, hospitality concerning the whole world. The way I see it, ecumenia is not only about dialogue and co-operation within the divided Christian churches. For me it has to do with the whole world, as the word itself actually stands for. Between all religions and cultures, that is. I am aware that it's no good when trying to blend everything. This is not what Xenia Oecumenica means for me. Neither is it a synonym for perennial philosophy. There is the same spirit that made the old ecumenia. But this one is wider and more... Well, maybe you know what I am referring to. At least I hope so."
The quote was written and published here, then removed but it seems not for good. Maybe it was for the best, then. There haven't been too many journeys, perhaps that is the reason I am not ashamed to show off. I am not a traveller, like most of us. I am a tenderfoot, but I have walked, I have walked a-long....