Tony Earnshaw’s poetry

Tony has been writing poetry for all of his adult life. He has had a number of poems published in magazines, both haiku and longer poems. He was runner up in the Birds on The Wire collection competition with Wood Pigeons, his poem ‘Views’ was included in the anthology ‘Poems to Keep’  and ‘Beyond‘ was included in What the Peacock Replied’ (both Dempsey and Windle).  His haiku have appeared in Time Haiku and BHS publications and he has collaborated with Surrey Hills Arts in projects which include Inspiring Views and featured on line and in the special National Poetry Day video of Surrey Libraries.

Tony’s latest collection, from specialist poetry imprint Vole, is Paths and Digressions, an exploration of modern life, of faith, of coping with Covid and climate challenges, and of the humour and love to be found in everyday life.

Many of the poems included have been published elsewhere. Now they are together as a coherent body of work produced over the last few years. Expect to find laughter and tears and much to provoke thought.

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Poems from 2020

Recovery

After so long it was perhaps not surprising
that the move to touch met with some resistance,
permission was a while arriving,
and cautious habits proved quite persistent.

Old friends who had hugged without thought,
shaken hands, slapped backs, kissed cheeks,
had shrunk to images on a screen
and retreated over isolated weeks

till distance as a habit began to form
and many feared returning to old norms.

So many times they’d told each other
they longed to touch their friends and their relations,
but now each one came to discover
a reticence, a terror of contagion

so, like a recovery from any estrangement,
they were cautious, took their time
as if by tacit, pre agreed arrangement –
no words, a dance, a mime,

and slowly distances were breached,
hands extended, approaches made,
agreements on behaviour, on protocol, were reached,
assurances given, fears allayed,

till friends could greet the loved ones that they’d missed
with shake of hands or even with a kiss.

Shepherds

The Angels guided them.
Used commands more familiar
to their lips than ears
‘Come by’. ‘Away.’
And so they came, these hill folk,
to where the baby lay.

They leaned on staffs,
not much given to speech.
A look, a nod, said ‘Here
is what we seek’.

One of them had brought a lamb,
not long weaned,
for no particular purpose that he knew,
looked suddenly at the bairn,
proffered it, said ‘’It’s for you’.

Afterwards they ribbed him,
said it made no sense.
‘None of it does’ said the shepherd,
and that was his defence.

Back with the sheep, they wondered,
trudging up another hill,
if what they’d seen had changed them.
The world is wondering still.

Lessons learnt

These are the things that must be done
Leave oil in the ground, use the wind and the sun
Hold onto improvements so hard won
These are the things that must be done

These are the things that must be done
End the daily commute, the drive through the rain
The strap-hanging tube, the crowded out train
These are the things that must be done

These are the things that must be done
End our reliance on factory farms
Live light on the earth, do no harm
These are the things that must be done

These are the things that must be done
Pay the true price for the use of flight
Sustainably source our power and light
These are the things that must be done

These are the things that must be done
Walk or cycle down the street
Respect and honour all we meet
These are the things that must be done

These are the things that must be done
Require all corporates to respect the earth
Stop confusing wealth with worth
These are the things that must be done

These are the things that must be done
Value those who heal the sick
Care for the elderly, make things tick
These are the things that must be done

These are the things that must be done