I'll preface this by saying I hope it doesn't mess up re formatting again. I've tried to post this several times:

I do not see the entire bible as poetic, certainly.

I see Psalms as poetry because it brings forth for me the same emotional and spiritual experience I feel in Wordsworth's Intimations, for example.

And I do feel that poetry and music are intimately related. I also see Cohen, whom you mentioned, as a poet first and a musician second. I can't imagine seeing Take This Waltz any other way, for example.

I stand by everything I said. I did not mean my example of the cello to indicate that the poetry was written as lyric.

It is difficult to explain to you the creative process that occurred during that particular event. The words became one with the music, yet maintained their integrity as a poem. And it is not the first time this has happened for me and hopefully will not be the last. Although, if pressed, they could likely have been lyrics to the musical work.

What I intended to get across with that example in my earlier post was how inter-related poetry and music are.

Poets were often singers in earlier times. Minstrels. Poetry was sung. I believe (may be wrong -- should ask the Irishman) the seanchaidhes (sp?) in Ireland were bards, balladeers, singers. And we call one of the greatest of poets the Bard.

Dictionary.com defines Bard as follows -- clearly linking poet and song:

bard1 /bɑrd/ –noun

1. (formerly) a person who composed and recited epic or heroic poems, often while playing the harp, lyre, or the like.

2. one of an ancient Celtic order of composers and reciters of poetry.

3. any poet.

4. the bard, William Shakespeare.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME < Celt; cf. Ir, ScotGael bard, Welsh bardd, Breton barz < IE *gwrs-do-s singer, akin to Albanian grisha (I) invited (to a wedding)]

The American Heritage dictionary includes the following:

bard n. One of an ancient Celtic order of minstrel poets who composed and recited verses celebrating the legendary exploits of chieftains and heroes.

A poet, especially a lyric poet.

The poet is at heart a musician. The musician, a poet.

Angel