Wednesday, 1 April 2020

G-A-Y, Flowers of the Field

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

[Update. April 1st 2020]: The coronavirus, COVID 19, is spreading worldwide and various governments feel obliged to take various emergency measures; it all smacks of Big Brother to me although needs must we act responsibly and conform to a whole new socio-cultural-political mindset.

Whatever, let's stay calm folks, use our common sense, trust our basic survival instincts and we will get though what appears to be the worst global crisis since the second world war. Remember that thousands of people die of flu every year; while this corona virus appears to be far more serious than an outbreak of influenza, we all need to stay positive and help each other as best we can. The sick and elderly, are as always, the most vulnerable among us so we especially need to rally on their behalf, even if it means getting to know neighbours who are all but strangers. 

Me? I will be 75 later this year and have been living with prostate cancer since 2011. I live alone, but will stay in touch with friends by phone if mobility becomes severely restricted by any temporary legislation. Meanwhile, I continue to take each day as it comes, and hope for the best...] RNT

Meanwhile...

Whatever our ethnicity, creed, gender or sexuality, it is the same for all lovers and would-be lovers everywhere; if falling out is like a power cut, making up - or (finally) getting together for the first time - has all the natural thrills of an electric storm...

Nothing about love is unnatural, and that applies to LGBT lovers too; never let anyone tell or persuade you differently. Nor is the spiritual nature of love any less for LGBT couples; various socio-cultural-religious dogma may well argue differently, but be sure it is the human spirit in us all that will have the last word.

G-A-Y, FLOWERS OF THE FIELD

We were arguing,
(I forget why) and I stumbled,
fell into your arms,
struck by a sudden electric storm,
your lips, moist and warm
on mine, feisty red-hot tongue
prising them apart,
paralysing every muscle,
my heart folding in
on its epicentre like petals  
under siege

We broke away,
appalled by what we thought
we could see in our faces;
rage, fear, pain… like flashes
of lightning,
a hard rain falling like the tears
of old gods, home truths
lashing out at us like the wind
dragging vulnerable leaves
from brave trees as ever it pleases,
nature teases

We stared at each other,
wide-eyed creatures, less afraid
we’ll come to harm
than a situation caught us out;
no time to duck and dive,
but…a coming alive
in the throes of lightning flashes,
closing in on each other
by way of acknowledging
heavens above taking our part,
nurturing the earth

Storm over, fragile hearts opening
like flowers for the nurturing

Copyright R. N. Taber 2004; rev. 2020

[Note: An earlier version of this poem appears in The Third Eye by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2004.]


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