Milk

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

Harvey Bernard Milk (May 22, 1930 - November 27, 1978)

An American acquaintance once expressed surprise that I count Harvey Milk among my heroes. He seemed to think it odd that an Englishman should rate Harvey Milk so highly.  Oh, but why not? Years after his murder, he remains a role model for gay people worldwide, not just in the USA.

Harvey Milk (Photo from Wikipedia)

No poem can do the man justice, but I hope you will enjoy this villanelle.

MILK

Inspiring hope and integrity,
freeing the natural self to run true,
a gay man called Harvey

Where hate crime stalks society,
see love and peace yet win through,
inspiring hope and integrity

No apology for homosexuality
(though its nightmares come true);
a gay man called Harvey

Where lies reworking history,
truth finds its allies (worldwide, too)
inspiring hope and integrity

Recruiting us all to the equality
a common humanity (still) aspires to
a gay man called Harvey

Helping expose world hypocrisy
(as our ‘betters’ frequently fail to do);
inspiring hope and integrity,
a gay man called Harvey…

Copyright R. N. Taber 2013