http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
Is anyone really convinced by those well-heeled members of various
societies in the northern hemisphere who love nothing better than to tell us,
‘Ah, but we have equality now...’
Equality, bollocks! Tell that to
most women or gay folks or people so often patronised (or worse)
for their ethnic origins. Political correctness is all very well but two words
won’t put the world right in a hurry even if token gestures do a damn good job
of keeping up appearances.
On the face of things, the 21st
century is progressing well, even in a southern hemisphere as blighted by
socio-cultural-religious bigotry as by poverty, not forgetting corruption in
high and not so high places.
Meanwhile...
When I write love poems, my
thoughts always turn to my late partner. Maybe this is why I physically ached
for the person who inspired this poem. His partner had been killed on active service only weeks earlier, but he was warned by immediate family
to stay away from the funeral in case anyone should get ‘the wrong idea.'
WINDOW, LAST SEEN CLINGING TO A
LEAF
The moon is full and stars are
shining
for our lovemaking on a gilt edged
leaf
clinging fast to my bedroom window
Your lips are full and eyes are
shining
as your lips descend on mine for a
kiss,
remains of a lifetime of false
hopes
Fighting a good fight with
expressions
of love that deserves better than
defeat
by armies raised by and allied to
bigots
Hearts so full, they can but spill
over
into hands making ready a vat of
tears,
battle for peace of mind already
lost
Our lovemaking as splendid a
farewell
as ever a leaf took from a branch,
its tree
no match for relentless autumn
winds
You went away to fight another war
where being gay might matter to
some
but not to those carrying your
coffin
The moon is full and stars are
shining
for our lovemaking on a gilt edged
leaf
left in pieces at my bedroom window
Copyright R. N. Taber 2010
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