On The Intimate Nature Of Stargazing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Today’s poem has not appeared on the blog since 2010. So many readers have said they can identify with it, having spent time apart from boyfriends, girlfriends or partners from time to time that you will find it among some 100+ others in my new collection.

The intensity of missing someone is the same for anyone, of course, gay or straight, but gay people often seem to get left out of even such a timeless equation as this. Yes, even these days, especially where gay relationships are still looked upon as an offence against religion if not morality. So where’s the harm in reminding everyone that we miss loved ones too. [The likes of Giles Muhame please note although let’s not suppose for a moment that such foolish socio-cultural-religious bigotry exists only in a less enlightened southern hemisphere. Dear me, no, it is everywhere.]

Meanwhile...

Pick  and share a star with a loved one, and you can be sure that finding it again when you miss them most helps hold the dream and bring them that little bit closer.

Whimsical, you say? Well, yes, and why not if it works...? Oh, and it invariably does, believe me. Try it, and see.

ON THE INTIMATE NATURE OF STARGAZING

Once I wished on a falling star

as lovers the world will often do,

that soon we can be together,

knowing you’ll be wishing too

The star vanished in the night

though others kept me company

as I wondered how you are,

knowing you’re thinking of me

I felt even closer to you then

than at times when you’re here,

fighting back tears, the zen 

of star-crossed lovers ever near

No heavens frowning upon us

(see the Old Man take our part)

but the world’s prejudices

would force us, gay lovers, apart

For now, they may have won

a battle or two, but never say die,

for love will see us through

in this as in darker years gone by

For every person wishing us ill,

others echo Earth Mother, calling
on us to live. love, and follow

a dream for every star that's falling

May we each find joy and peace

in one another, wherever we may be,

make the world a kinder place,

let all its star-crossed lovers go free

Copyright R N Taber 2012

[Note: An earlier version of this poem appears in Tracking the Torchbearer by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2012]