A Protest March
after the painting by L. S. Lowry, 1959
Get out of the road, dogs!
They’re coming, marching
but this lot aren’t from
the factories, they’re too
well dressed, too high
and mighty to carry banners.
They’re obviously in ranks,
big knobs first. One or two
women add a token red
to the black and grey prism.
But why my street? Why
not take the scenic route
instead? Scenic my arse.
They just want us to see
power on the move. This
is no protest, more a march.
Not a sound from neighbours
as they stand still and watch.
The men bow their heads,
one man stands erect!
Silly buggers, it’s politics
not a bloody funeral march.
Taken from the forthcoming pamphlet Like A Fish Out Of Batter, Poems after L. S. Lowry (Indigo Dreams Publishing), where Catherine gives voice to the people in Lowry’s paintings.
