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.