Reflections and Frustrations

By Andy Easthope

Created over a number of years, the writings collated in this book describe the many different feelings, thoughts, and issues that I have experienced with people and in relationships both intimate and friendly. Some of the poems are dark, and others are quite lighthearted. Some of them will not make any sense to the reader, but then they might . . . These have been put together because, like songs, everyone experiences something in their life of a similar nature, and hopefully, if you relate to even one of them, youll realize you are not alone in this huge but small world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524637675

Andy Easthope

Born in Holbrook, Derbyshire, in 1967, I have spent the first seventeen years of my life travelling around the world with my parents because of my dad’s role as an engineer. If you ask them, they will tell you that I was always with a pencil and paper in hand wherever we went. I was involved in a number of sporting activities, including swimming, athletics, rugby, football, and tennis, where I captained the U15’s local club team and was ranked 25 in Ontario, Canada. I was also a member of the Cubs Scouts, and St John Ambulance. School always involved sports and art as my main subjects. Inventions came later when I found I was always top in the class in metalwork and woodwork. Being a quiet person, I spent a lot of time thinking, and as I grew older, I found that I was very caring and giving. I tended to give too much, and this caused emotional problems. I realized I was jealous and controlling. This all came to an end about three years ago when I turned to reading self-help books and concentrated my efforts on myself rather than on other people. During this difficult time, I took to writing about how I felt and how people I became involved with affected me, good or bad. Life has been so much better, and friends have been amazing, supporting me on my uphill journey. I now work in the Middle East for a local company on the Fylde coast. Work and social life are the best they have ever been. I am the father of two fantastic kids, grown up now, and I live alone in my idyllic rooftop penthouse overlooking the sea.

Book preview

A Friend I Will Never Be…

I want to be your friend

To be close, but mostly understood

How you are, who you are

And know deep inside

You’ll be mine, my best friend by far

But with all the will in the world

That won’t ever be possible right now

As you’ll have others, to be up close to and to call

To cuddle, to hold, to share

More than I will ever know and dare

So I will just stand back

To prevent my heart from being black

Should your best friend now

Become my replacement – somehow…

A Future Not To Be

Tis not the jealousy nor the insecurity we should fear

Tis but the gut we should hear

For when lies that are told to soften the truth

That lay behind the hardened eyes

No more can it carry on

As a future to thee cannot be.

All Your Own

They say that splitting up is hard to do

Whoever said it must have known you

Rebuilding the flame that flickers within

Until your days are no longer dim

As each goal is set to be accomplished

Your life slowly returns unstained and polished

With it maintaining your undying devotion

Toward those three things that set you in motion

What is it you ask?

That takes you to task

The three things we dare to mention

Each divided into their own section

The kids be one

Until they’re grown and gone

And work be another

With all present you don’t bother

The third be your house

The task it causes makes you feel like a