With her husband's killer up parole for a third time-he was denied last week-Yoko Ono admits the last few weeks have taken a toll. But instead of dwelling on the negative, Ono is throwing herself into work.

Ono, the now 71-year-old widow of John Lennon, is busy promoting two new singles she's recorded as well as two Lennon CDs-including a new acoustic-style disc-that will be released early next month.

Ono and Lennon were never shy about taking up a cause. This time, she's focusing on gay marriage by releasing a reworked dance version of her 1980 song "Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" that now includes same-sex references.

"It's ridiculous," she told The Wire, describing those like President Bush who support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. "It's basically a human rights issue, and I really think we should stand up for (gay marriage).

"It's touching and sweet that some people still want to gamble on marriage," no matter if they are gay or straight, she said.

Ono said she believes that Republicans are using the controversial issue to divert attention from a lack of progress on a host of important issues like the war and health care.

Her other new recording is a version of Lennon's iconic "Give Peace a Chance," which now includes updated lyrics referencing Sept. 11 and the war with Iraq, which she calls "appalling."

"John and I always spoke for world peace," she said.

In addition to her own music, Ono supervised the repackaging of Lennon's 1975 "Rock'n'Roll" album of classic 1950s covers as well as a new 17-song disc titled "Acoustic" that culls some of Lennon's "quieter" post Beatles work, including seven tracks available for the first time.

The acoustic disc, in particular, will showcase what she describes as Lennon's often-overlooked guitar playing.

She says taken together, the two CDs, scheduled for a Nov. 2 release, will show off Lennon's "two faces": one his "macho rocker" side and the other his softer side.

Despite all the work, Ono has had to deal recently with the renewed worldwide interest regarding her husband's brutal 1980 murder that accompanied his killer's recent bid for parole.

"It's been pretty trying," Ono confessed.

Mark David Chapman, who is serving a 20-years-to-life sentence in an upstate New York prison, last week was denied his third bid for release and will remain behind bars for at least another two years.

Ono said she respects the parole board's decision, but did not want to dwell too much on Chapman or her feelings about Lennon's murder. She did say she appreciates all the support she received from Lennon's fans in recent weeks.

"I wish to express my gratitude to the people of the world for again expressing their deep love for John and sending me their kind words at this difficult time," Ono said. "I very much appreciate it."

In its decision denying Chapman's release, the parole panel noted the "monumental suffering" Chapman caused Ono, who witnessed her husband's Dec. 8, 1980 murder as the two returned to their apartment building near Central Park after a late night recording session.

Ono referenced that suffering in an emotional letter she has submitted to the parole board each of the three times Chapman has come up for parole.

"It is still painful for me to think of what happened that night and verbalize my thoughts logically," she wrote in that letter.

"With his one act of violence in those few seconds, (Chapman) managed to change my whole life, devastate his sons, and bring deep sorrow and fear to the world," she wrote. "It was, indeed, the power of destruction at work."

She admits in the letter that even though she has said she doesn't think of that day anymore, "in actual fact, the memory of that night has never left me for the last (24) years."

She also said she fears for the safety of herself, Lennon's two sons, and even Chapman himself, if he is ever allowed back on the streets.

Rather than dwell on Chapman, she told The Wire she was looking forward to marking what would have been Lennon's 64th birthday this past Saturday by focusing on the couple's 29-year-old son, who shares his father's Oct. 9 birthday.

"I've been taking care of John's birthday every year...and I'm sure Sean feels, though he's never said it, 'mommy, I was born that day ,too,''' she said.

Ono will also be presenting "When I'm 64," an exhibition of drawings, caricatures and sketches in SoHo this month in honor of Lennon's birthday.