Irving Layton Born 100 Years Ago - March 12, 1912

These intersections of the lives of Leonard Cohen and his one time mentor and long time friend Irving Layton are offered in celebration of the centenary of the birth of the man Cohen called "our greatest poet."

There was Irving Layton, and then there was the rest of us. He is our greatest poet, our greatest champion of poetry. Alzheimer's could not silence him, and neither will death.

 - Leonard Cohen (Irving Layton 1912 - 2006. Montreal Gazette, January 5, 2006)

Leonard's mind has not been contaminated by a single idea

 - Irving Layton, quoted by Leonard Cohen (Leonard Cohen and the Persistence of Sorrow by Paul Schrodt. Esquire, Jan 32, 2012)

I taught him how to dress, he taught me how to live forever.

 - Leonard Cohen (Irving and Leonard by Rich Baines, LeonardCohenFiles)

I always think of something Irving Layton said about the requirements for a young poet, and I think it goes for a young singer, too, or a beginning singer: 'The two qualities most important for a young poet are arrogance and inexperience.' It’s only some very strong self-image that can keep you going in a world that really conspires to silence everyone.

  - Leonard Cohen (The John Hammond Years, Interview with John Hammond and Leonard Cohen. BBC, September 20, 1986. Found at LeonardCohenFiles)

Always after I tell him what I intend to do next, Layton solemnly inquires: Leonard, are you sure you're doing the wrong thing?

 - Leonard Cohen (Our National Muse By Judith Fitzgerald The Toronto Star, August 1, 1999)

He stood up for Nietzsche
I stood up for Christ
He stood up for victory
I stood up for less

I loved to read his verses
He loved to hear my song
We never had much interest
In who was right or wrong

His boxer's hands were shaking
He struggled with his pipe
Imperial tobacco
Which I helped him light 

 - Irving and Me at the Hospital by Leonard Cohen, from Book of Longing, which is dedicated to Irving Layton (1912-2006)

My personal favorite of the videos about Leonard Cohen and Irving Layton is this clip of Leonard Cohen singing "The Banana Song" to Irving Layton, who, as I pointed out in the May 14, 2009 Heck Of A Guy post, Leonard Cohen Has Gone Bananas, plays second banana.

[Layton's] work moves us.... This is the tonic, the elixir. Irving, I salute the aching and triumphant impeccability of your life.

 - Leonard Cohen, speaking at a 1991 tribute to Irving Layton (Various Positions - A Life Of Leonard Cohen by Ira Nadel. Random House of Canada, 1996)

Credit Due Department: Photo atop this post by Wayne Cuddington. Photo of Leonard Cohen and Irving Layton found at A Quiet Madman (Ottawa Citizen, Jan 5, 2006). Photo of Leonard Cohen, Jack McClelland, and Irving Layton from Canadian writing enjoys a golden age despite takeover of McClelland & Stewart - The Star (Jan 13, 2012). Photo of Leonard Cohen with Layton's book of poetry (at Layton's funeral) by Ian Barrett.

I always think of something Irving Layton said about the requirements for a young poet, and I think it goes for a young singer, too, or a beginning singer: 'The two qualities most important for a young poet are arrogance and inexperience.' It’s only some very strong self-image that can keep you going in a world that really conspires to silence everyone.

From The John Hammond Years, Interview with John Hammond and Leonard Cohen. BBC, September 20, 1986. Found at LeonardCohenFiles.

Leonard Cohen, along with Moses Znaimer and David Solway, gave eulogies at the memorial services for poet Irving Layton, who died January 4, 2006.

On hearing of the passing of his friend and mentor Cohen issued this elegant acknowledgment:

There was Irving Layton, and then there was the rest of us. He is our greatest poet, our greatest champion of poetry. Alzheimer's could not silence him, and neither will death.

More pithily, Leonard Cohen once said of Layton,

I taught him how to dress, he taught me how to live forever.

Credit Due Department: Both quotations are from Irving And Leonard by Rich Baines, 2006. Photos are by Ian Barrett/CP and were found at Globe and Mail.

I placed my hand upon her thigh. By the way she moved away I could see her devotion to literature was not perfect.

Irving Layton (poet and friend/mentor to Leonard Cohen)

Summer Camp Snapshot: Leonard Cohen (from right), Anne Sherman, Aviva Cantor, and  Irving Layton (1957)

Leonard Cohen, Summer Camp Counselor - scary thought, eh?

I don’t think the poet has a mission. I think that activity more appropriately applies to the priest, the teacher, the politician, and the warrior. As my friend Layton wrote: “Whatever else, poetry is freedom.” It seems a very aggressive proposition to teach someone something they don’t want to learn.

Leonard Cohen, responding to the query, “What is your opinion on the proposition that ‘the visions of poets may teach those who do not want to know it that there is more in shadow than in light?’” in a 2001 online chat.

...  and the TV audience (October 25, 1991 episode of  Much Music TV, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ). From Leonard Cohen Has Gone Bananas