A Yew Tree and a Rose (Revisited)

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

Covid-19 continues to take its toll on us across the world, and as a neighbour recently commented, "We are surrounded by death. True, but it will be Valentine's Day soon, so here's a poem to remind us that we are also surrounded by the evergreen nature of love. 

"The moment of the rose and the moment of the yew-tree
Are of equal duration." - Little Gidding (Four Quartets) - T.S. Eliot

A YEW TREE AND A ROSE (REVISITED)

I had come to lay a rose
at your grave, already in tears,
pausing by an ancient yew,
to rage at its mocking humanity,
mind-body-spirit
at a loss for being left alone
to dwell on its being
denied the lifespan of certain trees
over centuries. 

“You carry poison in sap,
berries and leaves,” I screamed
at the yew, “while a love
that gives mind-body-spirit
its joie de vivre
remains subject to such trials
or blessings as nature
sees fit to permit, regardless of class
or circumstances." 

"Love, too, carries poisons
of its own,” the tree pointed out,
“possessiveness, envy,
and jealousy but three of those
so, speak not to me
of poisons, given how humanity
delights in half-truths,
all the more so for their having spread
among the living dead.” 

“Yes, there are some call me
‘Tree of Death’ who are ignorant
of leafy needles
I let fall to live and let live
over centuries
and of any healing qualities
in sap, leaf or berry as your apothecaries
may use against diseases.” 

“Earth Mother, will give and take,”
the tree went on, “for such is nature
and human nature,
each their moments in time
to be loved and leave,
though neither forgotten
nor even dead to those privileged to share
any part of their time here.” 

My tears dried, and raging no more
at the world for its coming between us,
I lay my rose
on your grave, murmuring words
of love, returned
in a light breeze that's kissing me,
promising, as you make us a home in my heart 
that death will not see us part

 Copyright R. N. Taber, 2021

 [Note: This post-poem also appears on my general poetry blog today.]

Reaching out with Mind-Body-Spirit

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

One of the most hurtful things anyone has ever said to me was that I would not see my friend again after he died because he (being gay) would go to Hell while I (still in the closet at the time) would be in heaven. Everyone had liked my friend, including the person who made the comment.

I was clear about my sexuality at the time, but years of being made to feel some kind of freak meant that only a few people I trusted knew I was gay. I had distanced myself from religion years earlier so the threat of Hell did not touch me. What did touch and hurt me was the suggestion that gay people should be punished for their sexuality alone. The more I thought about it, the more I became convinced that this is utter rubbish. While I don’t believe in a God, as such, I find comfort, joy and spirituality in nature.

Maybe I see ‘God’ in nature but prefer to call it something else. Whatever, of this I am certain; if there is a God along the lines various Holy Books tell us, He (or She) is no homophobe, Nor is that just the poet in me speaking or even because I am gay, but what nature tells me every day.

I am sometimes criticized for ‘getting romantic’ about death. There is, of course, nothing romantic about dying. At the same time, the experience of loving someone who has died is one that transcends life, love, and even death. Various socio-cultural-religious bigots who would have us believe this does not apply to gay lovers are but demonstrating an incredible ignorance of the human condition.

We live, we die. Without love and romance, why bother? Moreover, we should remember that love comes in all shapes and sizes; partner to partner is but one form of loving albeit one of the most precious. We can make it big in the fame game or get rich one way or another. But fame lasts only for a select few and it’s no use to us once we’re dead. Nor can we take a pot of gold to the Great Beyond. 

Ah, but love… in whatever shape or form...

[Image taken from the Internet]

Gay or straight, love we get to keep, such is its timelessness.

REACHING OUT WITH MIND-BODY-SPIRIT

You wear jeans, your shirt is white;

hair, a crown of gold in the soft twilight

like a god in fields spring green,

the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen

I watch in awe, rooted to the spot

as you chat with flowers, this tree, that bird

in a voice as sweet as Pan’s own flute,

the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard

I catch your eye, rush into your arms,

savour full, moist lips crushed against mine,

a murmuring of centuries-old charms

turning salt water on my tongue into wine

Too soon you leave, yet sweeter my agony

for a love that lends us immortality

[From: Accomplices to Illusion by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2007]

Love Never Dies

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

Loving someone, whether for years, weeks or even less, is sure to leave its mark. Sometimes, when I’m fighting depression, as I am at the moment, I think of all the people I have ever loved, and the sum of that love helps me find my way through the maze of confused thoughts and feelings that invariably precede depression although we rarely have a clue at the time just where they are taking us. [In time, though, we learn to recognise the signs.]

A recent telephone conversation ended with our both agreeing that life can be so unfair sometimes. After I’d replaced the receiver, I found myself back in the maze. Only, this time I wasn’t alone, but accompanied by those who may have played a small or huge part in my life, yet whose own lives were cut short, depriving them of any chance to fulfil their potential. I can’t honestly say that I’ve fulfilled mine, but that’s down to me, no one else. Whatever, I’ve (mostly, not always) enjoyed trying. More to the point, at 66 years-old I’m still here to tell the tale, and can look forward to the roller-coaster ride continuing for a few more years yet. Well, fingers crossed...

It is not only so true that love never dies, but it also never ceases inspire. Moreover, it is as likely to pay us a visit out of the blue, and leave us a better person for that, as we are to spend a lifetime in its company.

Don’t ever be afraid of friendly ghosts. Oh, they can never take the place of real people, but they can be good companions all the same, especially when real people, however well-meaning, fail to grasp what we need most...love, and its (reciprocal) belief in us.

LOVE NEVER DIES 

He had looks, he had charm,

always a pretty girl on his arm;

I could only admire

a swinging of hips as he walked,

an incredible self-confidence

when he talked, a man who knew

his own mind, unafraid

to voice an opinion, no matter

upsetting anyone

I was shy, I was scared

in case anyone suspected I’m gay;

all I could do was pretend

an interest in the opposite sex

even though he was always

on my mind, asleep or awake,

this god with jet black hair

who invariably wore a (very)

tight tee and jeans

One day caught us waiting

at a bus stop in the pouring rain

and we got chatting

about everything and nothing,

my pulse racing,

heart skipping so many beats

I thought I’d die

especially when he teased me

about my school tie

Our bus arrived, everyone

soon aboard but we’d hung back

and somehow the bus

went of without us, leaving us

wondering why were there,

soaking wet, grinning at each other

like conspirators caught out

and not quite knowing what to do

or say next

He told me he’d noticed

how I was always watching him,

demanded to know why;

I expected the worst but, even so,

couldn’t lie;

something in me wouldn’t let me

apologize either

but I couldn’t look him in the eyes

or stop my tears

I turned and walked away

but he laid a hand on my shoulder,

forced me to face him,

pushed me into the bus shelter,

my back to the wall.

waiting for a punch in the face

or worse

but all that came was a long, slow,

gentle kiss

No one ever knew about our love affair;

he died in a road accident a month later

Copyright R. N. Taber 2010