http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
Since I started this gay-interest poetry blog 10 years ago, I have heard from various gay couples of both genders living in various parts of the world whose prevailing socio-cultural-religious ethos is essentially homophobic. At gay groups around the UK, too, I have met gay boys and girls, men and women whose ethic background has meant their families cannot reconcile themselves to their being gay.
No one chooses to be gay nor is it an optional lifestyle, but simply the way we are. Nature, unlike much if not most of human society is the kind of broad church that humanity will argue it aspires to, but invariably lets those people down who see our common humanity as just that, an humanity common to us all, regardless of race, religion and, yes, sexuality.
I am often asked why, as a gay person, I have a general poetry blog. Well, there is far more to all of us - gay or straight - than our sexuality, and I have been pleased to see more gay friendly readers visiting both blogs in recent years.
Hopefully, the future will see fewer ignorant bigots emerging as future generations come to terms with and encourage action against climate change and other issues that affect all humanity, not least the rights of any individual to follow his or her their natural instincts and be as they are, not as some outdated stereotype dictates they should be. Not everyone will agree, of course, but as I have also asked repeatedly in my posts/ poems...whatever happened to agreeing to differ? Trite, yes, but true as is the old adage, 'United we stand, divided we fall.'
EYE OF THE TIGER
Since I started this gay-interest poetry blog 10 years ago, I have heard from various gay couples of both genders living in various parts of the world whose prevailing socio-cultural-religious ethos is essentially homophobic. At gay groups around the UK, too, I have met gay boys and girls, men and women whose ethic background has meant their families cannot reconcile themselves to their being gay.
No one chooses to be gay nor is it an optional lifestyle, but simply the way we are. Nature, unlike much if not most of human society is the kind of broad church that humanity will argue it aspires to, but invariably lets those people down who see our common humanity as just that, an humanity common to us all, regardless of race, religion and, yes, sexuality.
I am often asked why, as a gay person, I have a general poetry blog. Well, there is far more to all of us - gay or straight - than our sexuality, and I have been pleased to see more gay friendly readers visiting both blogs in recent years.
Hopefully, the future will see fewer ignorant bigots emerging as future generations come to terms with and encourage action against climate change and other issues that affect all humanity, not least the rights of any individual to follow his or her their natural instincts and be as they are, not as some outdated stereotype dictates they should be. Not everyone will agree, of course, but as I have also asked repeatedly in my posts/ poems...whatever happened to agreeing to differ? Trite, yes, but true as is the old adage, 'United we stand, divided we fall.'
EYE OF THE TIGER
I am
who I am and all that I am
is
blessed by Earth Mother;
it is
she who gives you to me,
at ease
with our sexuality;
no one
else has the right to speak
against
us who are gay;
it is
her love gives you to me,
at ease
with our sexuality
I am
that I am and all that I am
aches
for love and peace
among
family, friends, a country
at ease
with our sexuality
while we
dry Earth Mother’s tears
for a
make-believe freedom
that
gives me to you and you to me,
at ease
with our sexuality
Where
the tides of time spare none,
find
history’s wry comment
on
freedom, bright as a tiger’s eye
in the
jungle of human nature,
pointing
the world to a better place,
kinder
of heart, fairer of face,
embracing
the likes of you and me
at ease
with our sexuality
There
is, among all Human Rights,
one
that must have priority;
taking
pride in our individuality,
no
matter its sexuality;
as for
those who insist we deserve
punishment,
even death...
find
none so blind as will not see
Creation’s
finer symmetry
Copyright R. N. Taber 2011
[Note:
Written in response to a communication from two secretly gay Yemenis among anti-government
demonstrators in Yemen, February, 2011.]
No comments:
Post a Comment