The Longest Journey

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

Of all the joys in life as we journey through it, love has to be the greatest. As for the pitfalls, love can always be relied on to pick us up, brush us down and help us start all over again ... but only if we let it. For some, sadly. life is cut short sooner than they or we would wish, but any love they inspired will sustain us as we continue life's journey on their behalf, in mind-body-spirit through all time and space whatever our socio-cultural-religious persuasion.

THE LONGEST JOURNEY

Love, it has many faces,
some gay, some not,
journeys many places,
laughs, cries a lot…
No finer friend you’ll find
to share peace of mind
where demons on the brain
come again, again
for the soul - or we will
surely fall

Love, it has many faces
comforts, make afraid
in least expected places,
reflects all that’s likely
to make us tearful, sublime,
captives of Time;
in a world (not of our choice)
its sweeter voices may yet
ease the soul or, yes, we will
surely fall

Love, it has many reasons,
asks questions, tells lies;
reflecting all human seasons
as the need flies…
in the heat of human sorrows,
through dark tomorrows;
brave hearts on wing in spite
of everything that drags
on the soul or, yes, we will
surely fall

Love, it wears a friend’s face,
makes no demands;
a single candle left burning
at my heart’s command…
under threat of darker sorrows,
striving better tomorrows,
a light in the soul’s gloaming
to guide an epic roaming
at freedom’s call or, yes we will
surely fail

Copyright R. N. Taber 2001; 2017

[Note: An earlier version of this poems appears in Love And Human Remains by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2001]