Doorways Poem by Christopher Shepheard

These little cottage doorways
Even I must nod the head to,
Where the tinker stooped to enter
And the squire doffed his hat too.

More courtesy than stature
Set the lintel height for both,
For whether shoed or booted,
One belief informed their oath.

The soles of both were mended by
The cobbler down the lane
And their overtures were gentle
As their counterpoint was plain.

Their ways were not as our ways,
For the loutish never bow,
And these little cottage doorways
Are much disparaged now.

(2009)