Pièce de résistance

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

Today's poem first appeared on the blog in 2015.

A reader once emailed me and asked the nature of my thoughts. For example, he wanted to know, am OK with being gay? Do I have regrets for being in my 70's now? He might as well have just asked if I am OK with being myself.

Yes, there is a part of me that is not happy with all I have achieved and not achieved. Who doesn't’ have regrets? I have more than my fair share, but being gay is not one of them. Coming out openly as a gay man, albeit waiting until my 30's to do so, is one of the relatively few aspects of my life of which I will always be proud.

PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE

Body, seeking love,

where doors closed to me

or slammed in my face,

warning I must know my place,

given an open sexuality

scorning all prejudice

and bigotry, daring to stake

my claim to co-exist

among the best (and worst)

humanity has to offer

Mind, anxious love

close not its open doors to me

or slam them in my face,

reaffirming that I have a place,

given an open sexuality

trusting prejudice and bigotry

will (eventually) accept

nature’s everlasting legacy

to history of the best (and worst)

humanity has to offer

Spirit, conspiring with love

to engage a kinder humanity

with the likes of me,

urge a smile on the face

of adversity, keeping it in place,

for taking pride in sexuality,

tasking prejudice and bigotry

with (finally) accepting

all the integrity of human nature

demands, that our differences

but make us human

Body, mind and spirit, steering us

through good and bad patches...

Copyright R. N. Taber 2015; 2020

[Note: This poem has been slightly but significantly revised since it first appeared on the blog in 2015.} RNT