Love, Cry Me Sometimes

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

A colleague once asked me if I thought he was ‘betraying’ his late partner by finding happiness with someone else.

Well, why be lonely when you can be happy, and who would want anyone to be lonely anyway?

As it happens, they were a gay couple, not that sexuality has anything to do with love, loss, or moving on. Moreover, as I have said on the blogs more than once, moving on doesn’t have to mean leaving anyone behind. Love never dies, but remains an inspiration along life's journey and beyond. 

Ah, but never compare love and lovers; that isn't fair on anyone.

Now, yes, it’s good to cry sometimes, but let’s never forget how to laugh, love …and live.

LOVE, CRY ME SOMETIMES 

Don’t cry me
because you still love me,
yet cry me sometimes
if only because it so happened
I couldn’t stay

Don’t cry our love
left in your safekeeping,
yet keep it safe
if only because love deserves
its say

Don’t cry the times
we’d always pull together,
yet cry me sometimes
if only because it so happened
I couldn’t stay

Don’t cry the mistakes
we’ll always be sorry we made,
yet cry me sometimes
if only for those we didn’t get
to put right

Don’t cry me
because time did the dirty on us,
yet cry me sometimes
if only for your being happy
with someone else

Copyright R. N. Taber 2011

[Note: This poem first appeared on the blog several years ago, and a reader has asked me to reinstall it.]

Revelations

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

A reader complains that "too much of your poetry is social commentary, you should stick to writing about nature and real poetry.” Well, maybe I should, but I won't because - rightly or wrongly - I feel that a lack of responsible social awareness is a contributory factor in bigoted points of view often rooted in misleading stereotypes and subsequent bad attitude. I try to encourage a more positive or at least fairer approach to life and people. Wherever a poem results in constructive criticism - of content rather than form - it is on its way to achieving just that.

‘Real' poetry, what’s that?

Readers often comment that my love poems could apply to anyone, gay or straight. Well, that's the whole point.

Regular readers will know that my partner died long ago. We did not have many years together. Yet, our love is a part of me still and always will be. At the same time, we should never compare lovers or even friends because that’s not fair on anyone.

Invariably, we change as we mature; so, too, does love. If we're lucky, we mature together.

Sometimes, for all kinds of reasons, love falls behind. Meanwhile, the lock on our heart's door may well need removing. Nothing will be the same. Yet, if two people want each other in their lives, it is always worth leaving the door open. Be sure, it’s not the dead who keep the door shut; only the living can do that. True love never knowingly closes the door on itself.

As I have said many times on my blogs, moving on does not mean leaving anyone behind. 

REVELATIONS

The day you died,

I tossed my heart in your wake,

could but weep

for its loss, letting mine break …

Why you had gone,

no one thought to confide

as I watched you into the sunset

on a pale horse ride

Where had you gone?

I fiercely rejected all speculation

for believing  

in a custom made hell or heaven;

the last words I heard you say

were on living this life to the full

as yours passed away like sunshine

come nightfall

I looked up, saw a cloud

steal your sweet smile  just for me,

felt your kisses like rain

inspiring this poor body of mine

to live, even love again …

I watched the cloud move on

with thanks for its letting my heart  

know where you had gone

Long after you died,

a new love is making vows I yearn

to return, return…

Born again, risen like the phoenix

from the same sweet smile

I’ll see in every passing cloud

where you’ll look to reassure me

it’s no betrayal

Copyright R. N. Taber 2013; 2015