http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
Someone once asked me how , as a gay man, I can write love poems. Well, I ask you, does a silly question even deserve an answer?
For a start, LGBT folks are as capable of love as anyone. Possibly, my questioner was confusing love with sex, as many people do. He may well choose to set himself up as judge and jury regarding our approach to that, but by what right does he do so? His religion may well condemn same sex relationships, but what justifies imposing his religious agenda on me?
Sex can be an expression of love, of course, but it's by no means the only one. Besides, love comes in all shapes and forms, as I have pointed out on the blog many times. We may well love family, friends, places, pets... in which neither sex nor gender (or sexuality) play any part whatever.
Love is a powerful emotion in both human and natural worlds, nor is it any less natural in the former for same sex couples. No one chooses their sexuality, it is purely a matter of genetics. Why condemn same sex couples for something many if not most heterosexual couples take for granted? Bigotry - on religious grounds or narrow mindedness - causes considerable hurt to those it attacks, so much so that many LGBT folks are fearful of being open about their sexuality; yes, even in the 21st century! Fear (not shame) may well mean a closet existence, one I endured until my mid-30's and, believe me that closet gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'Hell on Earth'.
Is saddens me so that I've met LGBT folks from all walks of life (yes, all walks of life) who risk losing family, friends, even their lives, not because of their sexual persuasion but as a result of bigoted, stereotypical perceptions of it. While it is encouraging to see less of the latter these days, we still have a long way to go before certain communities worldwide are ready to put them aside, if ever...
Yes, I've said all this before, especially on my other poetry blog, but - as my dear mother used to say -if something is worth saying, it has to be worth repeating.
Take care, keep well and be safe everyone.
TRUE LOVE WAYS
Though Fate us part awhile
relax, enjoy a cup of tea
or a walk in the park, but smile
and laugh for thinking of me
Though Life us part awhile,
play a game, see a movie;
no moping, keeping a low profile;
move on, have fun, think of me
Whatever has us part awhile,
our love will keep us close;
so, no tears, just summon a smile,
be as dawn to a river as it flows
For engaging with life forces
and any blows they let fall,
there’s a You-Me-us of happiness,
able to defy, rise above them all
Let Death conspire against us
(with nothing better to do?);
Love, the stronger of all life forces,
will find ways to see us through
Whoever, in life, to a Heaven aspires
has but to nurture true love ways
Copyright R. N. Taber 2021
[Note: This post-poem also appears on my general poetry blog today.] RT
No comments:
Post a Comment