FROM BETTY:
Betty Esperanza from Montreal, Canada is a self proclaimed poet, humanitarian-artist and one of the original A BOOK ABOUT DEATH contributors who travelled from Montreal to New York for the opening of the first ABAD 2009 exhibit.
She was inspired by her own experience dealing with death and shared her fears as well as her revelations with an original photography work that became a catharsis that led to her living life at its fullest, unapologetically.
The poetry within her gave her a voice and courage to start up an open mic poetry festival called 100 Thousand Poets 4 Change, now in its 8th year and all inspired by her favourite poet, Leonard Cohen. She was fortunate enough to meet him on two occasions. The first time was backstage at a concert he performed at in Montreal where she timidly told him he was her inspiration to keep writing and the second time on the famous Boulevard Saint-Laurent near Schwartz’s Deli where he was taking a walk and she bumped into him serendipitously. They spoke about the summer breeze and how it felt timeless and he remembered her last name, Esperanza. This encounter in particular gave her comfort.
When Leonard Cohen passed away, there was a spontaneous tribute in front of his Montreal home at 28 Vallieres Street where hundreds of fans stood in silence listening to troubadours signing his songs, lighting candles, leaving notes of love and poetry and just being present to remember a man who influenced compassion using his pen and voice. The photo Betty took of the flyer around the pole of Leonard looking straight at us is powerful. We all felt he was with us as we stood together solemnly.
When Leonard Cohen passed away, there was a spontaneous tribute in front of his Montreal home at 28 Vallieres Street where hundreds of fans stood in silence listening to troubadours signing his songs, lighting candles, leaving notes of love and poetry and just being present to remember a man who influenced compassion using his pen and voice. The photo Betty took of the flyer around the pole of Leonard looking straight at us is powerful. We all felt he was with us as we stood together solemnly.
May everyone live, And may everyone die,
Hello, my love, And, my love, Goodbye.
Leonard Cohen 1934-2016
Truly,
