River Of Dreams, Rhythm Of Life

http://www.authorsden.com/rogerntaber

So many readers have asked me to include this poem in a book that I have made sure it will appear in my 7^th major collection, Tracking the Torchbearer due for publication in the UK within the next few weeks. [Although it will only be on sale here and can be ordered at any UK bookshop, overseas as well as UK readers can order copies direct from me.]

I am always being asked why my poetry books are only on sale in the UK. It is because no poetry publishers have shown any interest. Reading between lines, I get the impression they are unhappy about including poems on a gay theme in ‘general’ collections. So I created my own imprint back in 2000, and have always been delighted with the response, recovering costs as well as enough to pay for additional print runs and publications. [There is no profit in poetry, but who writes poetry to make a profit anyhow?]

There will be no new print runs of my titles [Contact me if you want one.] as I am preparing new editions. However, I am hoping sales of Torchbearer will pay for these as well as a new collection in 2015 to mark my 70^th birthday. Whether this will happen during these times of acute austerity measures and falling book sales remains to be seen.

In the meantime, yours truly plods on regardless...

As for the poem, it’s another love poem to warm the cockles of the heart on a cold winter’s day or put a smile on the face of sun or moon for lovers everywhere. [Yes, even the straight ones....]

RIVER OF DREAMS, RHYTHM OF LIFE

I recall one long lovely summer

when we‘d stroll beside a river

discovering more about each other

than we ever knew before

I recall how we lay in long grass,

shared our first shy, gay kiss,

soaking us with more happiness

than we ever knew before

I recall how our naked bodies

mingled with butterflies,

a more glorious heat embracing us

than we ever knew before

In your arms, my cheek against

your bare chest…

in nature’s hands more blessed

than we ever knew before

Before we dressed, another kiss

could but let the grass

play a sweeter song on our bodies

than we ever knew before

We walked hand in hand along

the river bank, its love song

ours to keep, righting any wrong

others had done us before

Years on, we stroll by a river,

chatting with each other,

your ghost and I, as much together

as we ever were before

Copyright R. N. Taber 2008