http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
A much earlier version of the poem below was drafted while waiting for a friend over a cappuccino in London's Soho district. I came across it recently, crying out to be revised.There were gay bars in Soho even then (fewer now) and Soho was considered a safe place for gay people, but there were no really safe places for us then any more than there are now. Yes, we have pro-LGBT legislation, Human Rights and so-called political correctness legislation here in the UK but certain aspects - of the latter especially - are is becoming something one-way streets, providing ammunition for some rather than protection for others. Many gay bars have closed in London with the politically correct brigade claiming there is no need for them now as we are all in the same swim together, and pigs might fly...
Sadly, hate crime is as alive and kicking in the 21st century as it ever was, homophobia included.
At the same time, as I have said before on the blogs, it has been my experience that evidence of the better, kinder side of human nature remains greater than the sum of its nemeses; we can but take each day as it comes, and seize any opportunity to lead by example.
On a different note altogether, several readers have asked if I will post a link to my videos on You Tube over which I read poem; while only some will be of special interest to gay readers, all are beautifully shot by my best friend, Graham. (If you don't want to hear the poem, you can always turn the sound off.) : https://www.youtube.com/user/rogerNtaber/videos
CAPITAL GAY
[London,UK 1997]
Pulling up a chair
in a busy cafe,
lolling there, one hair
turning grey
Sun, on the capital
like a pink beret
on all its mad people
making their day,
rising above years
of senseless pain,
holding back any tears
for acid rain
A nine-to-five hero
mulling wearily
on much further to go
for true equality;
table stains, a history
of burst seams
for a diverse humanity
chasing dreams
A voice out of nowhere
greets our hero,
extends a remit to care
until tomorrow;
a nearby table already
debating loudly
its becoming less steady
for issues LGBT
A Here-and Now, ours
to test the case
for worldwide gay lovers
being left in peace
Copyright R. N. Taber, 1997; 2019
[Note: An earlier - and very different -version of this poem appears in my collection, First Person Plural by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2002]
A much earlier version of the poem below was drafted while waiting for a friend over a cappuccino in London's Soho district. I came across it recently, crying out to be revised.There were gay bars in Soho even then (fewer now) and Soho was considered a safe place for gay people, but there were no really safe places for us then any more than there are now. Yes, we have pro-LGBT legislation, Human Rights and so-called political correctness legislation here in the UK but certain aspects - of the latter especially - are is becoming something one-way streets, providing ammunition for some rather than protection for others. Many gay bars have closed in London with the politically correct brigade claiming there is no need for them now as we are all in the same swim together, and pigs might fly...
Sadly, hate crime is as alive and kicking in the 21st century as it ever was, homophobia included.
At the same time, as I have said before on the blogs, it has been my experience that evidence of the better, kinder side of human nature remains greater than the sum of its nemeses; we can but take each day as it comes, and seize any opportunity to lead by example.
On a different note altogether, several readers have asked if I will post a link to my videos on You Tube over which I read poem; while only some will be of special interest to gay readers, all are beautifully shot by my best friend, Graham. (If you don't want to hear the poem, you can always turn the sound off.) : https://www.youtube.com/user/rogerNtaber/videos
CAPITAL GAY
[London,UK 1997]
Pulling up a chair
in a busy cafe,
lolling there, one hair
turning grey
Sun, on the capital
like a pink beret
on all its mad people
making their day,
rising above years
of senseless pain,
holding back any tears
for acid rain
A nine-to-five hero
mulling wearily
on much further to go
for true equality;
table stains, a history
of burst seams
for a diverse humanity
chasing dreams
A voice out of nowhere
greets our hero,
extends a remit to care
until tomorrow;
a nearby table already
debating loudly
its becoming less steady
for issues LGBT
A Here-and Now, ours
to test the case
for worldwide gay lovers
being left in peace
Copyright R. N. Taber, 1997; 2019
[Note: An earlier - and very different -version of this poem appears in my collection, First Person Plural by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2002]
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