Reader
‘Jean-Claude’ who lives in Paris has asked me to repeat today’s poem that last
appeared on the blog in 2010. I am happy to do so if only because, during an
awful spell of weather we are experiencing here in the UK, my thoughts are
quick to turn to summer; in this case, to a memorable June night many years
ago...
I would also like to take the opportunity yet again to recommend a delightful French DVD 'Juste une question d'amour' (Subtitled: Just a Question of Love) which take a delightful and sensitive look at the difficulties the parents of some gay people experience in coming to terms with their son's homosexuality.
I have a friend who lives in Lille who still feels he cannot break it to his parents that he has a boyfriend.even though they have been in a relationship for five years. Sadly, there are gay people worldwide who feel they cannot be open about their sexuality for one reason or another. In mu friend's case, he is burdened with a whole load of Catholic guilt; in other parts of the world gay people have anti-gay legislation to contend with. and live with the threat of imprisonment or worse. It is a sad indictment on a 21st century from whose socio-cultural-political and religious elements we deserve better.
I find the rise of the Far Right across Europe very disturbing; it plays on people's fears regarding the extent of immigration. While it is true that many immigrants are from cultures that are intrinsically homophobic, and many seem unwilling to change their attitudes towards gay men and women, we should never forget that the policies of the Far Right are as essentially homophobic as they are racist and anti-immigration. No one who deplores prejudice of any kind should ever vote for these people.
I would also like to take the opportunity yet again to recommend a delightful French DVD 'Juste une question d'amour' (Subtitled: Just a Question of Love) which take a delightful and sensitive look at the difficulties the parents of some gay people experience in coming to terms with their son's homosexuality.
I have a friend who lives in Lille who still feels he cannot break it to his parents that he has a boyfriend.even though they have been in a relationship for five years. Sadly, there are gay people worldwide who feel they cannot be open about their sexuality for one reason or another. In mu friend's case, he is burdened with a whole load of Catholic guilt; in other parts of the world gay people have anti-gay legislation to contend with. and live with the threat of imprisonment or worse. It is a sad indictment on a 21st century from whose socio-cultural-political and religious elements we deserve better.
I find the rise of the Far Right across Europe very disturbing; it plays on people's fears regarding the extent of immigration. While it is true that many immigrants are from cultures that are intrinsically homophobic, and many seem unwilling to change their attitudes towards gay men and women, we should never forget that the policies of the Far Right are as essentially homophobic as they are racist and anti-immigration. No one who deplores prejudice of any kind should ever vote for these people.
THE
TWO OF US
Under Paris stars,
one night in June - a nightingale
sang our tune;
we embraced,
exchanging vows - with tongues
of fire;
no chill of darkness
undermining or intruding upon
our happiness;
your hand in mine
as kissed and exchanged rings
said it all...
Come morning,
sweet night bade us each a fond
au’revoir;
a minute’s silence
for two singles joined together
(no matter what);
cock crows
as we embrace a parallel dawn,
bask in its glory;
Under Paris stars,
one night in June - a nightingale
sang our tune;
we embraced,
exchanging vows - with tongues
of fire;
no chill of darkness
undermining or intruding upon
our happiness;
your hand in mine
as kissed and exchanged rings
said it all...
Come morning,
sweet night bade us each a fond
au’revoir;
a minute’s silence
for two singles joined together
(no matter what);
cock crows
as we embrace a parallel dawn,
bask in its glory;
love,
icon
for
all seasons, opening its petals
to
the sky
Story told, the world over, me
and my gay lover
Story told, the world over, me
and my gay lover
Copyright R. N.
Taber 2002; 2010
[Note: An earlier version of this poem appeared in 1st eds. of First Person Plural, by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2002; 2nd ed. in preparation. NB New eds. of my collections will not be available until after I have published a final collection in 2015. Meanwhile, some 1st eds. of all my poetry titles remain available. All readers can contact me for signed copies or UK readers can also order at any bookshop, amazon.co.uk or their local public library if listed in the library catalogue. Sorry, but overseas readers can only pay via my PayPal account as I cannot accept cheques or money orders.]
[Note: An earlier version of this poem appeared in 1st eds. of First Person Plural, by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2002; 2nd ed. in preparation. NB New eds. of my collections will not be available until after I have published a final collection in 2015. Meanwhile, some 1st eds. of all my poetry titles remain available. All readers can contact me for signed copies or UK readers can also order at any bookshop, amazon.co.uk or their local public library if listed in the library catalogue. Sorry, but overseas readers can only pay via my PayPal account as I cannot accept cheques or money orders.]
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