Where Freedom Keeps its Word

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

Today's poem first appeared on my gay-interest blog in June 2012; anyone interested in the original post is welcome to visit that blog's archives (listed on the right hand side of any blog page.)

Same sex marriage is about to be legalised in Northern Ireland, having lagged behind the rest of the UK for about 5 years. Catholics will not be happy, but surely Freedom of Choice should be every person's right?Similarly abortion in N. I. is being be decriminalised; it is every woman's right to know and choose what is best for her own body. The Democratic Unionist Party (D.U.P) have maintained throughout the shambolic Brexit debate in Parliament that nothing should be signed up to that makes N. I. different to the UK, but there have been differences for years.

Family should provide sanctuary for all of us, but this is not always the case. Love should not be a hiding place from family and friends, but something we are proud to share with them.  Nor does being unable to enter into such pride mean being ashamed; too often, it simply means being scared and/or unwilling to light a slow-burning fuse of confrontation that can only end in tears and worse.

I well recall how, years ago when anti-gay legislation here kept me in a cold, dark, closet; a love far removed from any feelings for family and friends was the only sanctuary on hand. Gay or straight, if we choose a partner of whom our families disapprove - for whatever reason - it can and does cause so much heartbreak for everyone concerned. We may well disapprove of another's choice, that is our prerogative, but it is really none of our business so we can at least respect it and do our best to be reconciled to it...surely? If we don't, can't or won't...that says more about us than anyone with whom we might take issue on...whatever.

Half a century on, I am estranged from my remaining family and have very different friends. It isn't a question of playing any blame game either, just the way it is. In some parts of this mad, mad world of ours, little has changed as far as LGBT rights are concerned; in law, yes, but while there may be  legislation for bad attitude, certain prejudices and hate crimes -  among them, homophobia and racism - remain alive and kicking even in so-called 'civilised' countries.

WHERE FREEDOM KEEPS ITS WORD

We’d hide in craters of the moon

so no one would see our tears,

make love in craters of the moon

where no one could hurt us;
what eyes can't see, hearts less likely
to fret over

We’d surf the Milky Way on stars

empathising with our history,

welcomed by old gods and heroes

who had seen it all before,
saddened to see so much of humanity
as divided as ever

We’d come to Earth now and then

but found no comfort there,

humanity (still) refusing to engage

positively with its prejudices lest it lose
the argument

The day came, we quit the sanctuary

of night skies for high noon,

let the world know all we’d learned

from old gods and heroes, let ourselves
be seen and heard

Reassured by Apollo’s ready smile,

we showed the world our tears,

shared secrets about moon craters

where none could hurt us but in our own
hearts and minds

Be sure, time will return us to space,

where Freedom keeps its word;

humanity (still) refusing to engage

positively with its prejudices lest it lose
the argument

Copyright R. N. Taber 2010