Hydra, 27 July 1961

Typed letter signed (“Leonard”) to Marianne Ihlen ("My darling Marianne"), Hydra, 27 July 1961.

One page, 280 x 216mm (fading to signature); with transmittal envelope (torn).

“My darling Marianne, How strange it is to be here without you and to discover how much of the island was Marianne and how much ordinary rock and sun. It is as though I have not quite arrived.”

Finally back in Greece, but without Marianne, who is still working to resolve her own complicated personal life in Oslo with her husband and his mistress. From afar Cohen tries to support her: “I hope you are not hurting each other too much. Perhaps now you have an opportunity to reverse a defeat and establish one or two victories yourself. I always believed you were the strongest one. I write this out of love, my dearest Mu, knowing a little of how humans move to protect themselves or burn themselves away. Almost nothing happens by accident, least of all accidents.”

He closes, “Our time together gave me courage for many things, and my sense of closeness with you, in spite of the distance we maintain, has not diminished. It is light now and I have blown out the candle. I feel sleepy at last. I look out the window and everything is connected with you. Write me quickly and tell me what you feel.”

By descent from Marianne Ihlen.