This page reserved for six poems from

ROGER TABER.

Roger has recently published a collection of his poems entitled Love and Human Remains. Enquiries should be made to RogerTab@aol.com

GOOD COMPANY

I went to your grave on Easter day,
a longing in the heart to be near
as once we were;
I knelt, alone, unable to pray,
laid flowers at the stone,
glad to stay;
Someone wished me Peace,
said pain would pass
and hurt grow less...
that you'd left but briefly,
returned safely - to
live in me;
Only, that's not what I wanted
to hear, just be with you
as once we were;
A tugging at my sleeve
but I wept and would not,
could not leave;
Gently, lifting my face to the sky,
showing aspects of our history
like a home movie;
Easy, then, to rise and turn away
from a stone and flowers,
eternity, ours;
Walking hand in hand through
a cemetery - you and me
in good company


R. N. TABER , c2002

Note: One of several poems written some years ago after the death of my partner but not meant to be depressing!

A GARDENER'S WORLD

Ageing heart, a quiet garden,
young blooms, a pride and joy
walled in for protection
against heavy tread
of girl or boy

Ageing heart seeks privacy,
rejects intimacy, prefers
the company of ghosts
than concede
temporality

Ageing heart, a lonely soul,
hears laughter one day,
breaks down the wall,
lets children in
to play

Ageing heart, a prize garden
in high-rise flat or country cot;
among all its flowers,
the world's favourite,
forget-me-not



R. N. TABER c2002

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ODE TO LOVE
(A villanelle)

Walking the world with you,
smiles for everyone,
under a patch of blue

Making time for a view
or just having fun,
walking the world with you

Sometimes rain, it's true
and we have to run,
under a patch of blue

Stars fall, wishes come true,
one by one,
walking the world with you

Nor shall death win through,
twin souls undone
under a patch of blue

My heaven guide true
for everyone
walking the world with you
under a patch of blue


R. N. TABER, c2002

HOMEWORK

Photos by the bed,
posters on the wall,
press cuttings on a chair
likely to hit the floor
if someone opens
the door;
So the door stays shut,
keeping strangers out
while anxious faces debate
human rights, pollution,
nature conservation,
our salvation...
education, discrimination,
traffic congestion, political
correctness (on the face
of it), safer sex, drugs,
always having to 
be alert;
Clamour of voices kicking
the soul, like a football
across the room;
Conscience, scoring
an own goal - now
and then;
Questions, answers, lies,
half lies, home truths
like moths to a light;
Please, someone, open
the door - and
let us out!


R. N. TABER, c2002

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PASSAGE HOME

Having heard waves whisper
of battles lost and won
on stormy seas in faraway
places, among those fighting
to keep their places - at
the wheel...

Having watched clouds paint
pictures of losers, victors,
those staying on to help
dry a tear, others preferring
to turn a deaf ear - than
take the wheel...

Having beached lonely shore
and coral reef, swam with
the fishes, come to grief
in oceans surreal, let heaven
take a turn - at
the wheel...

Our hearing, seeing, done,
steering a passage home.



Copyright R. N. TABER, c2002

THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND
(a villanelle)

In pastures green, desert sand
Slither silent, unseen,
Lessons unlearned

Fear - like a dead man's hand
Appears sound, washed clean
In pastures green, desert sand

Words - like swords at the land
Ripping out its spleen,
Lessons unlearned

Love - a living, moving strand
Of hope on the world scene
In pastures green, desert sand

Time - to make a stand,
Against war and pain,
Lessons unlearned?

Faith - keep us safe and sound
Nor leave our wounds unclean
In pastures green, desert sand,
Lessons unlearned


Copyright R. N. TABER, c2002

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