I first came to Hydra when I was a student and fell in love with the place and its people. I returned years later in 1988 with a friend who was going through a difficult time in her life. Sadly the depression returned and she committed suicide by throwing herself off a bridge three months later. About that time I bought the I'm Your Man album and one of my favourites was The Tower Of Song. I wrote this poem to thank Cohen for helping me through that time.

Like you I went to Hydra. Like you I fell in love. Like you I returned later To see the magic once more. The barren rocks and the sparkling blue sea. The dung of the old donkeys Steaming in the noon day sun. The emaciated cats Sniffing at the token scraps On the snow white cobbled streets. The lights by night dancing on the sea And the clang, clang, clang clanging Of the halyards on the glistening masts. My memories came flooding back Ghosts were around each corner Beckoning me, calling me. Ela , agapi mou. I have this passion for Greece Which is not my own But came to me from the past, From the life I lived before I could not help myself From loving this barren land Nor did I chose to love That man who broke the language barrier With the strength of his soul. My dearest friend came with me. She loved it, she called it paradise. I thought it would be her salvation But alas it was not to be. She cried when we left Hydra She cried as much as me She said she would never forget The island, the sunshine, the sea. Little did I know when we left there How desperate she would be That three short months later She would throw herself into the sea. She lies in her lonely grave now She lies quietly and at peace The island gave her happiness But the hurt now is within me. I need the tower of song, now That’s where I want to belong. Let me in to the tower of song, Cohen Let me into the tower of song.