Tracking the 'I' in Humanity, a Universal Consciousness

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

Today's poem first appeared on the blog  last year and makes its return, slightly revised, as requested by a reader in South Africa who comments that he and his partner have had to "get used to far more prejudice against same sex couples here than we ever did back home." He adds, "We love London, though, and will enjoy living here, whatever."

A reader asks why on earth I am trying to compile a new volume of poems inthe middle of a pandemic. Well, why not...? Apart from providing a welcome distraction, I have to be pragmatic about the fact that I will be 75 years-old on the winter solstice and have been living with prostate cancer for since 2011. Should I die, it is unlikely that Google will retain my blogs so I want as many of my poems to remain accessible as possible to anyone interested. My best friend, Graham, has already said that if I have not managed to put all my fiction and poetry online by the time the Grim Reaper comes calling on yours truly, he will do his best to see to that for me.

Meanwhile ...

I once found myself chatting to a delightful young Muslim couple on a bus. They recognised me from my photo on the blog and asked if I was 'the gay poet'; this does not happen very often (!) so I have to confess I was flattered. The couple are gay, and were planning to come out to their respective families in the near future. Naturally, they were concerned about what kind of reception they will get, and asked my advice.

I never 'advise' people, preferring to simply offer an opinion. I pointed out that, unless they suspect the truth about this couple/s relationship anyway (often the case) any family may well need time to get used to the idea. We should never underestimate the power of love, though, to come to our rescue in any crisis. Hopefully, (and more often than not) love will prevail if only later sometimes rather than sooner.

Sadly, some people don't see their religion as embracing all sincerest forms of human love, consider any religious dogma as written on tablets of stone, never to be what might be interpreted as being  'compromised;  while world religions emphasise the power of human as well as God's love, they  have little (if any) time for expressions of the former likely to leave them open to accusations (by fellow Believers) of compromising the fundamentals of whatever dogma that defines their faith; the proof -  invariably in the "small print" - often forbids and despises same sex relationships. Whatever, I for one, put quality of life above life itself, and a life without someone we love, physically as well as otherwise, can be a living hell. 

Christians will always quote Leviticus on the question of same sex relationships, forgetting that Jesus of Nazareth preached a very different kind of God, a God of Love, and what God of love is going to cherry-pick what forms love should take When asked if he was the Son of God, Jesus answered "Thou sayest it" - in other words, if you say so. As a Pantheist The closest I come to any religion) , , I can no more believe in a personified God than a God who wish "Hell" on any LGBT expressions of love in mind-body-spirit. Many readers may be offended where no offence is meant, but it is my personal point of  view in a world where free expression (and a sense of spirituality) is gradually being eroded, not least by irs religions who seem to think they have a monopoly on spirituality where I would argue a (free) human spirit will find its own ways to express itself, whether through religion or not.

As with all decisions, Coming Out demands that we consider all likely outcomes and just how important it is to us to shrug off the shackles of dogma, convention, whatever... Tragically, same sex relationships remain a crime in some countries as well as in the eyes of others where LGBT folks are seen - legally, at least - as fully fledged members of modern society and a common humanity; they may well feel they dare not emerge from their closets, but should not think any less of themselves for that. Sadly, humankind is not unfamiliar with being a victim of circumstance as centuries of abuse in one form or another will bear witness, and almost certainly continue to do so.

I wish people everywhere who - for whatever reason - feel more oppressed than liberated by their sexuality, all the luck and love in the world; the greater part of hope for a better, kinder, world has always fallen on the shoulders of the young in any society, in any century; an unfair burden, of course, but one worth every heartbeat in my humble opinion and experience. Yes, I have no one with whom to share the ups and downs of old age as intimately as I would like, but that's life, and can happen to anyone; as I have said so many times (and will keep saying) love comes in all shapes and forms, and although I live alone, I am fortunate in having plenty of love in my life still, both living and posthumous; who could ask for more?

TRACKING THE ‘I’ IN HUMANITY, A UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Where have they gone,

all the people I used to know

when the world and I

were younger, making hay

while the sun shone

by day, making love by the light

of a gay-friendly moon?

Some have moved on

to that other-world we call death

for want of anything else

in the absence of any dogma

to let us off the hook

(so to speak) and as likely to be

gay-unfriendly as not

Some have moved away,

favourite gay bars closed down,

and nowhere (locally)

to kiss, hug, chat and feel safe

from sick innuendo,

malicious gossip, and hate crimes

no one deserves

I miss them, who saw me

come out, hold my head up high

rise above any whispers

and looks meant to drive a knife

into mind-body-spirit

for its having kept my 'dirty' secret

since schooldays

Where have they gone,

the feisty folks I used to know,

making of the world

a better, kinder, place, equality

given its head, LGBT

rising above stigma, stereotypes

and fake news?

A global consciousness,

the good fight against life forces

that would have equality

lose any battle against riptides

of dogma (still) crashing

against LGBT closets in all walks

of life worldwide

Ghosts, among those I used

to know, urging LGBT make hay

while the sun shines

by day, make love by the light

of a gay-friendly moon,

any riptide of human intolerance

notwithstanding

Copyright R. N. Taber, 2020