ODE TO TOM by John Twisleton (2017)

A century on and your words are still read

for the truth that you tell is undying,

of the beauty of Craven, our dialect, our farming,

the power of speech and of rhyming.

The untruths we live among, some of them new

such as ‘post-truth’ bring misinformation

so the call for integrity’s never been louder.

We need such as you in our nation.

The Truth that sets free was your inspiration.

You spoke and folk saw their deceit.

Many were freed from addiction and wrong

as they willingly sat at your feet.

Your humour and warmth shine out of your poems

as you make yourself one with your fellows

setting forth to them truth which has power in itself

needing whisper or rhyme and no bellow.

‘Lang Tom’ you lived as a giant among men

but your words are no truth spoken down to us

rather the truth that flows up from the humble

for you are one who lived his life close to us.

Speaking truth unto power you shake off the shackles

of bondage, vain thought and hypocrisy

through allegiance to God whose Truth never errs

and shines out to us through your integrity.

John Twisleton

Haywards Heath, West Sussex       June 2017

Canon Twisleton is Tom’s first cousin twice removed.