Thursday 2 April 2015

Finding Love, No Holds Barred


Regular readers will know that, while there is an autobiographical thread in many of my poems, just as many others have their origins in conversations I have enjoyed with various people in bars, on trains, even at bus stops. This poem takes me back to a delightful evening I once spent in the company of two young Catholics on holiday from Rome who were refreshingly unafraid to embrace God and each other…

Regular readers will also know that I am not a religious person; although raised a Christian, I found a sense of spirituality in nature that failed me in religion. At the same time, I respect anyone’s religious beliefs while refusing to believe that any God worthy of the name would hold a person’s sexuality against them, whatever their religion. Moreover, I reached this conclusion long before I realised or acknowledged (even to myself) that I am gay.

It saddens me greatly that, even in this 21st Century, many gay people across the world feel obliged to choose between family, religion, and sexuality if only for appearances sake.

FINDING LOVE, NO HOLDS BARRED

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,
two people tossed two coins
for the same dream, neither expecting
their lives might yet change
for the better, override generations
of secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,
two people eagerly flirted
with the same dream if not believing
their hearts might yet shape it
the way of all good things, overriding
its secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,
two people engaged
with the same dream, hiding tears
for years of battling
to reconcile faith in a God of Love
with secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,
two people all but denied
the same dream, neither daring
to give desire its head,
acknowledge its passion, run a gamut
of secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,
two people sought hope
in ripples slowly but surely lending 
the same dream
graceful flight far above and beyond
any secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,
two people acknowledged
each other, visibly edging closer
to the same dream,
soaring with doves expressing despair
with secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,
two gay people began
a journey that would one day free them
to make their dream a reality
where no God of Love rejects anyone
for their sexuality

Copyright R. N. Taber 2015














No comments: