The Gateway, 1966

Letter of December 4, 1966 from Leonard Cohen to Marianne Ihlen written during his visit to Edmonton.

“I must be a singer, a man who owns nothing .... I know now what I must train for …. Darling I hope we can repair the painful spaces where uncertainties have led us. I hope you can lead yourself out of despair and I hope I can help you.”

This is the first time he explains that he has chosen a career as singer/songwriter because he cannot make a living as a poet/novelist. He made that decision in Edmonton. From Silvie Simmons "I'm Your Man” pp. 152-154, 2013.

July, 2016 letter from Leonard Cohen to Marianne

“Well Marianne, it has come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. And you know that I have always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you already know about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love. See you down the road.”