Comfort and Joy OR Feeling is Believing

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

This poem first appeared on the blogs in 2010. [I do not intend to repeat all earlier poems, but readers are welcome to explore the blog archives as indicated in the far right column of any blog page.

Now, I always write love poems with my late partner in mind even though he died years ago. 

Hopefully, readers will always find time and space enough within themselves to get in touch with their own deeper feelings. In this sense at least, all religious faiths and festivals have something in common. 

Love has the capacity for rising above the worst life and nature may feel inclined to throw at it, including winter, a winter of the heart as well as of the meteorological kind.

Yes, here I go again. The message of all religious faiths and festivals - is one of peace and love; who hears  and acts upon it, is another matter.

Long, long live love … and let's not discriminate against LGBT folks just because it offends some heterosexual 'norm'; in a common humanity, diversity is part of what should be an all-inclusive norm, not an exception to any rules laid down and spread by any religious dogma as a socio-cultural-religious 'norm'. God is love, after all.

Long, long live peace, too, wherever it is given even half a chance.

As for peace of mind, we can but try for it, and once we find, be sure to share it, if only to take  comfort and joy from watching the ripples spread ...

Gay or straight, there is more to anyone than his or her sexuality; certain individuals, organizations, and communities (parents, too) - worldwide - would serve themselves and others by far better for keeping that in mind.

COMFORT AND JOY or FEELING IS BELIEVING 

I could hear bells ringing,

choir voices singing,

snow falling like manna 

from heaven for kids 

and snowmen while I gazed 

from a window,

nose against the pane,

never felt so alone

Suddenly, I saw you there,

sunshine in the hair,

so near, and yet so far …

a dear, familiar grin

daring me enjoy the comfort 

of togetherness

and share in festivity

than bare self-pity

Loneliness ebbing away,

I came out to play 

that wonderful winter's day;

you threw snowballs,

missed, and we kissed…

your lips so sweet 

and warm, grey-blue eyes 

forgiving me for living

Where snow piles your grave,

that winter's night,

we made love while bells 

rejoiced us and angels 

chorused all the pleasures 

of togetherness

that is the joy of festivity,

defying self-pity

Not once a year but every day,

love finds a way 

to bring such comfort and joy

as embraces us all,

nurturing the more positive

side of human nature,

heart and soul of a humanity

celebrating its diversity

If God is Love, and love acts thus,

where does bigotry have a place?

Copyright R. N. Taber 2002, 2020

[Note: This poem also appears on my gay-interest blog today; an earlier version appears in First Person Plural by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2002; it was originally written as a Christmas poem, but feedback suggested this made it come across as less all-inclusive] RNT