Making Peace With Love

http://www.authorsden.com/rogerntaber

Love can let us down sometimes or so we like to tell ourselves although it is often the other way round. Most of us manage to move on and build a new life, leave the way open for new relationships. Others, brood, become bitter, their out look on life soured.

It is important that those in the latter category (and most of us have been there at some time or other, yeah?) get their act together sooner rather than later. Gay, straight, male or female…

We all need to make our peace with love after a falling out…or moving on is likely to become less of an impossible dream than a living nightmare.

MAKING PEACE WITH LOVE

I could almost feel it licking at my
heels every step I took;
it cast a feisty shadow every time
I chanced a look;
I began to feel like a missing page
in my own history book

One day I waited, let it catch me up
then moved in,
seized it by the scruff of the neck,
and demanded it explain;
it wrestled me to the ground, left me
writhing in pain

I staggered after summer, still reeling
from its blow,
grabbed it by the hand, insisted I had
a right to know;
it laughed in my face, warned me not
to follow

But follow I did, down blind alleys into
a shady corner;
we glared at each other, sworn enemies
forever…
but finally trapping jealousy, my shadow
and love, my stalker

It was now or never. Grateful for a choice,
we made our peace,
time since more than kind to us,
and though long ago,
that summer’s rogue flame still
lighting happy memories

[From: On the Battlefields Of Love by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2010]

A Dance To The Music Of Time

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

This poem is another favourite of mine. Some younger people seem to think we older ones have nothing to look forward to as we get old(er) besides daytime TV. Well, let them think again…

This poem was last seen on the blog in 2008 and is repeated today especially for ‘Andy and Nick’ who are celebrating 45 years of living together culminating in a Civil Partnership last year. Apparently, today is the anniversary of the day they first met way back in 1965. Both are in their 70s now and, by all accounts can still give the young ones a run for their money.

Let’s all wish them well, yeah?

A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME

By a river, lost in admiration for
a pair of turtle-doves, ballet
celebration;
How two cock birds took on
the wider world, risked
being shot down;
Bolder, even then, than in love’s
preferred tradition best left
to evolution;
Now hoping for a sign, a telltale
squeeze of rheumy fingers,
anything - but nothing;
Hearts breaking, but for doves
painting pictures…on
twin canvases;
Tired bodies taken by surprise,
inspired to take a turn around
late summer skies;
Caught out dancing to the music
of time, heaven’s choice,
making space for us;
In the heat of our revival, sunspots
like bright eyes winking
sideways approval;
Tripping lightly, doves flown,
two old queers one Sunday
afternoon

[From: The Third Eye by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2004]

Kiss Of Life

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Sometimes when we are feeling low, it only takes a kiss to work wonders…

This poem was written in 1973.

KISS OF LIFE

You had the smile of an angel,
white shirt flapping like wings
in a breeze;
Out of nowhere, you came,
forcing this Unbeliever
to his knees;
You took me in your arms
and kissed me, lips
on fire;
My long-smouldering body
burst into flames
of mad desire;
A passion raged in the soul
far more than purely
sexual, rose…
like the soul of a ghost
set free, into heaven
above;
It was you, named me,
shamed me into
making love;
O, ecstasy! Left for dead
and born again, to
start anew

To our hearts, be true

[From: First Person Plural, by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2002]

The Ballad Of Neighbour Joe

http://www.authorsden.com/rogerntaber

I have to say thank you to US reader ‘Jackson D’ who has bought a copy of my new poetry collection and emailed with some very positive comments about it. Encouragement is always well received! He asked why several poems, including this one, have never appeared on the blog. Well, actually they have, Jackson, back in 2008, but here it one again and I hope everyone will enjoy. [The other poem that Jackson liked is Whatever Happened To Love? that is from an earlier ollection, Accomplices To Illusion (2007) and I have posted it on my general blog today.]

Jackson, you see, reads both blogs. I shouldn’t have to write a blog especially for gay readers but there are still a lot of straight poetry lovers out there would have no interest in reading a gay blog. The irony is that most of the Gay Awareness poems I post on the gay blog appear on the general blog at some time or another anyway…and only one reader has complained.

I have to say, too, that there are a lot of gay readers out there who only read my gay blog because it addresses gay people, not for the poetry. Even so, it is very encouraging that most gay readers seem to enjoy the poems too!

Here we are in the 21st century, for crying out loud, and it really shouldn’t matter whether people are gay or straight. We are all part of a common humanity, after all.

Well, aren’t we?

THE BALLAD OF NEIGHBOUR JOE

I hate queers, neighbour Joe
once said to me, they’re perverts,
don’t you agree?
Not really, I had to say, especially
as I’m gay

He stared, glared, eyes wide
as saucers, lost for words although
his expression said it all;
at last, he managed to get a grip
and curled his lip

Queers deserve to be shot,
he snarled at me, and decent folks
would agree;
I took you for decent, I have to say
but you’re…gay?

I nodded, said conversationally,
so you’ll be getting a gun to shoot me?
He shook his head.
You’re a nice enough person, he said,
I don’t wish you dead

Tell me, he wanted to know,
what it’s all about, this being gay?
Sounds sick to me…
I was taught to loath and despise
(he whispered) ‘sodomy’ 

You have a bad attitude,
I felt inclined to tell him straight,
I’m a top man, me…
but it’s my job pays the mortgage,
not my sexuality

Why should what my partner
and I choose to get up to in bed
matter to you so?
He shook his head, rubbed his jaw,
finally admitted…

I’ll be damned if I know.
You’re right, said neighbour Joe,
it’s none of my business;
blame it on that old song and dance
called ignorance

We shook hands, went on our way,
good neighbours to this day

[From: On The Battlefields Of Love by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2010]