Regular readers may recall how my partner died many years ago after only a short time together. As it turned out, I never met anyone else with whom to share my life. Even so, I have some good friends and have met some wonderful people whose life stories – happy and sad alike - have inspired many of my poems.
Sometimes people ask me how I can face growing old alone. Well, yes, I live alone but that does not mean I am alone. I have plenty of company, not least my poems. Besides, love, in all its shapes and forms, sustains and inspires me just it has always done, especially whenever I am feeling low or start feeling sorry for myself for whatever reason. Friends, places, nature, they haunt my memory and invariably come to my rescue to help me rise above whatever may be troubling me at the time.
My long-ago love is never far from my thoughts and our love continues to guide me through the complex maze we call life. He brought out the best in me and it is that which prevents me dwelling on mistakes, letting wishful thinking distort all the Here and Now has to offer me and (hopefully) I, it.
The great thing about love is that it doesn't discriminate against anyone for their colour, creed, sex or sexuality. Sadly, many human beings do, resulting in lovers the world over having to resort to subterfuge, sometimes being rejected by disapproving family and friends on grounds of certain socio-cultural-religious-principles that love (quite rightly) does not recognise.
The great thing about love is that it doesn't discriminate against anyone for their colour, creed, sex or sexuality. Sadly, many human beings do, resulting in lovers the world over having to resort to subterfuge, sometimes being rejected by disapproving family and friends on grounds of certain socio-cultural-religious-principles that love (quite rightly) does not recognise.
Time and again, life calls on us to learn and move on from our experiences, good and bad. We can but do our best. At the same time - as I have said many times on the blogs, and doubtless will again - it is always worth remembering that moving on doesn’t mean leaving anyone behind, especially those we have loved.
ODE TO MY LOVE
I so love you for a smile on your lips,
the laughter in your eyes, the way
your hair blows in a summer breeze,
how tears fall like a gentle rain
from heaven whenever we watch
soap television
I so love you for a song in your heart,
how it echoes all around,
sweeter sound even than skylark
or nightingale, lifting my soul
on wings of a prayer given thanks
for your being here
I so love how you flare like a candle
in the wind whenever
we quarrel, making up before
the day closes, recharging
our bodies, the more joy and power
to each other
I so love how you shoulder hardship,
brave and true, my hero;
though folks tread roughly
on our dreams
you’ll keep us safe, hold my hand,
quick to reassure
Who could ask for more...?
Copyright R. N. Taber 2002; 2016
[Note: An earlier version of this poem appeared under the title ‘Ode to my Love’ in First Person Plural by R N Taber, Assembly Books, 2002.]
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