So Long, Marianne
Com Oslo palco de rebeliões juvenis, Marianne Ihlen e Axel Jensen, conhecido escritor norueguês, fogem para a ilha de Hydra, Grécia, onde vários artistas internacionais se juntavam habitualmente, e compram uma pequena casa branca onde Axel escreve. Anos depois, Axel sai de Hydra abandonando Marianne e o filho de seis meses de ambos. Certo dia, Marianne estava na mercearia e recebe um convite de um homem para se juntar ao grupo de pessoas que está sentado na rua. Esse homem era Leonard Cohen. Leonard Cohen diz-lhe que ela é a mulher mais bonita que já viu e mais tarde vivem juntos no Canadá, com o filho de Marianne. Durante os anos 60 vivem entre Montreal, Nova Iorque e Hydra e a canção “So Long, Marianne” é composta, muito tempo antes de Leonard Cohen terminar a relação. A colecção de poemas Flowers for Hitler de Leonard Cohen é dedicada a Marianne. Em entrevista, Marianne Ihlen afirmou “He taught me so much, and I hope I gave him a line or two.”
Marianne Ihlen faleceu na semana passada. Como homenagem, a página de Facebook do músico encheu-se de memórias, poemas e várias outras formas de celebração da vida.
Kari Hesthamar, autor de So Long Marianne – A Love Story e amigo de Marianne, relembra:
“Listening to Leonard Cohen’s songs, it feels as though he’s singing precisely to you. Marianne had that gift: she made you feel that you were seen; she made you become a better version of yourself. With her eye for beauty, she made everything around herself beautiful. I remember how she put together a simple salad or an omelette, the light-footed, dancing way she moved, the laughter and the gravity. She spoke of how love doesn’t end. Relationships end, people die, but the love you have received remains within you, a foundation to be built upon.”
Jan Christian Mollestad, que se encontra a realizar um filme sobre a vida de Marianne, escreveu uma carta a Leonard Cohen, onde lhe comunica a morte de Marianne, imortal na sua música.
“Dear Leonard
Marianne slept slowly out of this life yesterday evening. Totally at ease, surrounded by close friends.
Your letter came when she still could talk and laugh in full consciousness. When we read it aloud, she smiled as only Marianne can. She lifted her hand, when you said you were right behind, close enough to reach her.
It gave her deep peace of mind that you knew her condition. And your blessing for the journey gave her extra strength. Jan and her friends who saw what this message meant for her, will all thank you in deep gratitude for replying so fast and with such love and compassion.
In her last hour I held her hand and hummed Bird on a Wire, while she was breathing so lightly. And when we left he room, after her soul had flown out of the window for new adventures, we kissed her head and whispered your everlasting words
So long, Marianne”
