http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
[Update Jan 1st 2018]: Some readers have been in touch to ask if I would reinstate Blasphemy as they have been unable to download the Google Play copy for various reasons. I will do this asap.] RT
These poems have their roots roots in a fiction trilogy I planned. Among other things, I wanted to suggest, via related story lines, that any bottom line (judgemental) perspective is ultimately down to human nature, not dogma. It's a long story, but the US publishers of my novel Blasphemy let me down by the time I had written Sacrilege so I went ahead and published it under my own imprint. To be honest, this was a mistake. While I recovered costs, I only sold about 200 copies because it was only available in the UK. (I could not afford the services of an overseas distributor). Moreover, the fact that I could not afford a professional proofreader at the time resulted in glaring grammatical errors, corrected later in the revised version that appears in serial form on my fiction blog:
http://rogertaberfiction.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/sacrilege-chapter-1.html
I shad hoped to complete Redemption eventually and serialise it on my fiction blog, especially as readers write in from time to time asking how the trilogy ends. Unfortunately, although I feel fine most of the time, hormone therapy for my prostate cancer often plays havoc with my concentration so Redemption remains on (indefinite) hold while I struggle to complete the final part (Book 2) of my fantasy novel, Mamelon. I am halfway into writing Redemption, however, so hopefully I WILL finish it one day.
Meanwhile...
Back to poetry (!) and I hope you will enjoy the trio of villanelles that I wrote in the course of planning the trilogy:
WHO SAYS, BLASPHEMY?
Where the blasphemy in any Belief
that takes its cue from humanity,
shining through like a spring leaf?
Why the pain, recriminations, grief
put down to a person’s sexuality?
Where the blasphemy in any Belief?
Earth Mother has given us our brief
for each season of our mortality,
shining through like a spring leaf
Let religious leaders make mischief,
undermining a common equality,
where the blasphemy in any Belief?
Another word pit against us is ‘if…’
confusing us, its very duplicity,
shining through like a spring leaf
While bigots use God’s handkerchief
to sneeze at our integrity…
where the blasphemy in any Belief
shining through like a spring leaf?
Copyright R. N. Taber 2009
WHO SAYS, SACRILEGE?
A sacrilege, I’ve heard people say
regarding something I read on a cloud
about God not minding if we’re gay
See and feel it in nature every day,
a native spirituality that makes us proud;
a sacrilege, I’ve heard people say
As we let acid rain erode our clay,
small matter to address a hostile crowd
about God not minding if we’re gay
For peace and love, gay people pray
who are as we are and shall say so aloud;
a sacrilege, I’ve heard people say
Dare religions take love’s holy way,
yet be blind to signs along the same road
about God not minding if we’re gay?
From dawn to dusk, come what may,
born to find a way in life, heads unbowed;
a sacrilege, I’ve heard people say,
about God not minding if we’re gay
Copyright R. N. Taber 2009
THE (three poems)BEAUTIFUL DREAM
My life, in part, I would redeem,
any promises broken, mistakes made,
nearer to live the Beautiful Dream
Stitched well enough at the seam,
for all its bright colours sure to fade,
my life, in part, I would redeem
I’d see life’s poetry shift its theme
from debts thoughtlessly left unpaid,
nearer to live the Beautiful Dream
But a jobbing actor in life’s scheme,
(some roles, a darker self has played)
my life, in part, I would redeem
See nature, our sexuality affirm,
world applauding the vows we made,
nearer to live the Beautiful Dream
Let it come, that moment supreme,
nor be fooled by misleading trails laid;
My life, in part, I'd gladly redeem,
nearer to live the Beautiful Dream
Copyright R. N. Taber 2009
[Update Jan 1st 2018]: Some readers have been in touch to ask if I would reinstate Blasphemy as they have been unable to download the Google Play copy for various reasons. I will do this asap.] RT
These poems have their roots roots in a fiction trilogy I planned. Among other things, I wanted to suggest, via related story lines, that any bottom line (judgemental) perspective is ultimately down to human nature, not dogma. It's a long story, but the US publishers of my novel Blasphemy let me down by the time I had written Sacrilege so I went ahead and published it under my own imprint. To be honest, this was a mistake. While I recovered costs, I only sold about 200 copies because it was only available in the UK. (I could not afford the services of an overseas distributor). Moreover, the fact that I could not afford a professional proofreader at the time resulted in glaring grammatical errors, corrected later in the revised version that appears in serial form on my fiction blog:
http://rogertaberfiction.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/sacrilege-chapter-1.html
I shad hoped to complete Redemption eventually and serialise it on my fiction blog, especially as readers write in from time to time asking how the trilogy ends. Unfortunately, although I feel fine most of the time, hormone therapy for my prostate cancer often plays havoc with my concentration so Redemption remains on (indefinite) hold while I struggle to complete the final part (Book 2) of my fantasy novel, Mamelon. I am halfway into writing Redemption, however, so hopefully I WILL finish it one day.
Meanwhile...
Back to poetry (!) and I hope you will enjoy the trio of villanelles that I wrote in the course of planning the trilogy:
WHO SAYS, BLASPHEMY?
Where the blasphemy in any Belief
that takes its cue from humanity,
shining through like a spring leaf?
Why the pain, recriminations, grief
put down to a person’s sexuality?
Where the blasphemy in any Belief?
Earth Mother has given us our brief
for each season of our mortality,
shining through like a spring leaf
Let religious leaders make mischief,
undermining a common equality,
where the blasphemy in any Belief?
Another word pit against us is ‘if…’
confusing us, its very duplicity,
shining through like a spring leaf
While bigots use God’s handkerchief
to sneeze at our integrity…
where the blasphemy in any Belief
shining through like a spring leaf?
Copyright R. N. Taber 2009
WHO SAYS, SACRILEGE?
A sacrilege, I’ve heard people say
regarding something I read on a cloud
about God not minding if we’re gay
See and feel it in nature every day,
a native spirituality that makes us proud;
a sacrilege, I’ve heard people say
As we let acid rain erode our clay,
small matter to address a hostile crowd
about God not minding if we’re gay
For peace and love, gay people pray
who are as we are and shall say so aloud;
a sacrilege, I’ve heard people say
Dare religions take love’s holy way,
yet be blind to signs along the same road
about God not minding if we’re gay?
From dawn to dusk, come what may,
born to find a way in life, heads unbowed;
a sacrilege, I’ve heard people say,
about God not minding if we’re gay
Copyright R. N. Taber 2009
THE (three poems)BEAUTIFUL DREAM
My life, in part, I would redeem,
any promises broken, mistakes made,
nearer to live the Beautiful Dream
Stitched well enough at the seam,
for all its bright colours sure to fade,
my life, in part, I would redeem
I’d see life’s poetry shift its theme
from debts thoughtlessly left unpaid,
nearer to live the Beautiful Dream
But a jobbing actor in life’s scheme,
(some roles, a darker self has played)
my life, in part, I would redeem
See nature, our sexuality affirm,
world applauding the vows we made,
nearer to live the Beautiful Dream
Let it come, that moment supreme,
nor be fooled by misleading trails laid;
My life, in part, I'd gladly redeem,
nearer to live the Beautiful Dream
Copyright R. N. Taber 2009
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