On the Road, at Apollo's Call

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

Regular readers will know that I am not a religious person although I like to think I have a strong sense of spirituality that I found in nature long ago. (Why should religion have a monopoly on spirituality, anyway?)

There have been many times in my life when I have been close to despair, and nature has saved me.

No coincidence then, perhaps, that the mythical god, Apollo, was reputed to have been bisexual and sunshine is to nature as love is to life…

ON THE ROAD,  AT APOLLO'S CALL

On the road

Spirit of life draining

from me,

I lay down by a tree,

let its branches

lift me free of the earth,

sail me on leaves

through time and space

to another place

where love and peace

are no sad dreams,

joys of hope running free

for all to see

On the road

Weary leaves unable

to sustain me,

returning me to earth

(nor gently)

as autumn descending

into winter,

my life ebbing away

into a stream

of misty consciousness,

happiness a blur,

(so near, yet, oh, so far)

my way unclear

On the road

Sun, suddenly shining

calling on the tree

to do the right thing

by me,

heed Apollo’s calling,

buds awakening,

new life shaping ways

of restoring

all weariness to vigour,

defeating despair,

defying the human spirit

to turn a deaf ear

On the road

Climbing a stairway

of sunbeams

on wings of a prayer

that you’ll still

be there, waiting

in a heaven

of our own making,

Earth Mother

at our side, fair Apollo

for a guide,

urging us seize the day

for being gay

On the road

I had not flown far,

spirits of love

and peace at my heels,

when I saw you

waiting at the next bend

where I fell

into arms open wide

like the branches

of a tree, restoring me

to life,

and bringing us together

forever

Copyright R. N. Taber 2015

From Russia with Love

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

Once, I had a Russian boyfriend, but we lost touch after he returned home. I mentioned him in a previous post, and recently heard from him again. I was delighted to hear that he is well and happily married to a lesbian. It appears they are very fond of each other, but get on with their respective love lives while paying lip service to the surrounding conventions. It is sad, but as good a means to a happy end as any, I guess, in a country well-known for its anti-gay attitudes.

Since starting the blog, I have heard from other gay couples in much the same position; in India, Pakistan and various African countries, for example.  Bigoted governments, and anyone who pays too much attention to what they say, remain in denial of one of the more poignant facts of life; that being gay is down to genetic make-up and not choice.  The only choice a gay person has is whether or not he or she finds a way to reconcile their sexuality with getting on with their life, and being happy; if this means paying lip-service to the conventions in a predominantly anti-gay environment, so be it.  

Hopefully, one day, gay people worldwide will have the respect and goodwill due to every human being doing his or her best to be true to their sexuality as well the home and wider society in which we all live; family, friends, work colleagues, politicians, clerics...

This poem is a villanelle.


FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

I will not turn and walk away
where bigots say I should
because I happen to be gay

I will not hide, by night or day
where bigots wish me dead;
I will not turn and walk away

If I must watch what I say,
I will not deny feeling good
because I happen to be gay

Bad laws may have their way
(to humanity, the last word);
I will not turn and walk away

Where faith comes into play,
I shall love, not fear God
because I happen to be gay

Let’s keep homophobia at bay
(see it fall on its own sword);
I will not turn and walk away
because I happen to be gay…

Copyright R. N. Taber, 2015

Finding Love, No Holds Barred

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

Regular readers will know that, while there is an autobiographical thread in many of my poems, just as many others have their origins in conversations I have enjoyed with various people in bars, on trains, even at bus stops. This poem takes me back to a delightful evening I once spent in the company of two young Catholics on holiday from Rome who were refreshingly unafraid to embrace God and each other…

Regular readers will also know that I am not a religious person; although raised a Christian, I found a sense of spirituality in nature that failed me in religion. At the same time, I respect anyone’s religious beliefs while refusing to believe that any God worthy of the name would hold a person’s sexuality against them, whatever their religion. Moreover, I reached this conclusion long before I realised or acknowledged (even to myself) that I am gay.

It saddens me greatly that, even in this 21^st Century, many gay people across the world feel obliged to choose between family, religion, and sexuality if only for appearances sake.

FINDING LOVE, NO HOLDS BARRED

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,

two people tossed two coins

for the same dream, neither expecting

their lives might yet change

for the better, override generations

of secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,

two people eagerly flirted

with the same dream if not believing

their hearts might yet shape it

the way of all good things, overriding

its secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,

two people engaged

with the same dream, hiding tears

for years of battling

to reconcile faith in a God of Love

with secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,

two people all but denied

the same dream, neither daring

to give desire its head,

acknowledge its passion, run a gamut

of secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,

two people sought hope

in ripples slowly but surely lending 

the same dream

graceful flight far above and beyond

any secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,

two people acknowledged

each other, visibly edging closer

to the same dream,

soaring with doves expressing despair

with secrets and lies

At a fountain in the heart of Rome,

two gay people began

a journey that would one day free them

to make their dream a reality

where no God of Love rejects anyone

for their sexuality

Copyright R. N. Taber 2015