A Poet's Blog: Roger N.Taber shares his thoughts & poems...

Thoughts and observations by English poet Roger N. Taber, a retired librarian and poet-novelist.- "Ethnicity, Religion, Gender, Sexuality ... these are but parts of a whole. It is the whole that counts." RNT [NB While I have no wish to create a social network, I will always reply to critical emails about my poetry. Contact: rogertab@aol.com].

About Me

Name: R. N. Taber

Location: London, United Kingdom

Sadly, a bad fall in 2012 has left me with a mobility problem, and being diagnosed with prostate cancer the same year hasn't helped, but I get out and about with my trusty walking stick as much as I can, take each day as it comes and try to keep looking on the bright(er) side of life. Many of my poems reflect the need to nurture a positive-thinking mindset whatever life throws at us.

Sunday, 6 February 2011

Whatever Happened To Love?

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

This poem last appeared on the blog well over a year ago. I look around locally or further afield, and can’t see that much has changed.

Ah, but hope springs eternal, yeah?

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LOVE?

No peace in the park for druggies
desperate to fund the luxury;
no time for drugs? Go for alcohol
poisoning instead…

No fun at the fair for pickpockets
out for an easy ride;
sanctuary in our schools invaded
by a culture of bullying

Generation gaps made (far) wider
by five star psychiatrists;
Mother Nature repeatedly raped
by property developers

War on Terror, welcome distraction
from Home Front issues;
our own backyards heaped high
with body bags…

Consciences cleansed with charity,
confession, prison programs …
Problems worse for pointing fingers
of blame elsewhere

C'est la vie, we’re told, and no point
in crying over spilt blood;
prevention better than cure, they say,
so whatever happened to love?

Copyright R. N. Taber 2005, rev. 2011

[Note: An earlier version of his poem was first published in CC&D poetry magazine(US) 2005 and subsequently in Accomplices to Illusion by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2007.]

Labels: anti-social behaviour, blame, culture, human nature, human spirit, life, love, mind-body-spirit, nature, past-present-future, personal space, poetry, politics, relationships, religion, responsibility, society