Gay in the Park

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

We hear much talk here in the UK of gay men and woman having equal rights along with the heterosexual majority, but woe betide a gay couple (especially two gay men) seen kissing passionately in a public place...

I have lost count of the times I have sat alongside a straight couple enjoying a snog on a bus or train or just walking along the street. There’s nothing wrong in that, so why should it be ‘wrong’ for a gay couple?

Here’s wishing gay lovers everywhere, good luck, good health and a good write-up by press and public. As for those countries where a public show of affection is a criminal offence for socio-cultural-religious reasons , it is high time they came into the 21st century and brought their people with it.

  

GAY IN THE PARK

A scent of summer roses in the air

fills this loving heart with peace

as I recall a time we passed by here

and shared our first public kiss

Some people paused to stare at us,

moved on, voicing thoughts aloud

about how plain disgusting it was

that gay folks flaunt love with pride

Love, they declared, was personal,

for two people to share in private,

not treated as an exhibit universal

for the whole damn world to debate

As for gay people, they must learn

not to ‘flaunt’ their sexuality so

in the face of public moral concern

that can only (surely?) grow…

Though words meant to hurt our ears,

a gentle breeze softened each blow

while a heady scent of summer roses

assured us a peace only lovers know

We’ll laugh again, share another kiss

all thorny thoughts withstand…

for some will always begrudge us this,

as summer roses prick the hand

Copyright R. N. Taber 2007