This book contains poems Peter Lindfors gave to his friend and mentor Leonard Cohen. Gina Waggott has written the preface and Jonas Ellerström a short biography. Andreas Björsten contributes postscript poems as a tribute to the poet. All three of them were also Lindforss’ friends.
I Didn’t Use to Like People
I didn’t use to like people
To this day
I’m not sure that I do
But I go out and talk to them
and I come home feeling better
Maybe, just maybe
they aren’t just assholes
and I hope this poem
is not just a load of crap
Peter Lindforss´ book debut was in 1976 with a collection of poems called Vykort från sjuttiotalet, in translation ”Postcards from the Seventies”. Until 1984, he published four more collections of poetry. He moved from almost private publication to being accepted by a major publisher, but never made a breakthrough.
Lindforss spent time in Paris and in New York. In 1981 he meet Leonard Cohen on the Greek island of Hydra and it was the start of an unusually intimate and long-lasting friendship. Cohen became Peter’s mentor.