A lonely man

What a beautifully detailed picture you paint of Lowry, Coral. I too, only recently, have come to really appreciate his work. Your poem, a fitting tribute to a great artist.

Tina;-)

Thank you Tina - much appreciated.

this is really fascinating! You've inspired me to go off and find out more myself.

Hi seashore,

you have really brought out the mystery of Lowry, in
this wonderful portrayal of such a great painter.

A very enjoyable and interesting read.

Jenny.

Applause!! clap, clap!!

Poetry and social commentary seldom go well together, but this works just fine. It takes a delicate touch; you've got a delicate touch. Great poem!

I know nothing of Lowry but I liked your poem
;)Pia

Seashore, hello.
Well done on the cherry.
I understand that all will be revealed soon to the world. His hidden "...Rossetti woman..."
And I hope you are still painting?

ps I have a Lowry 'sailing boat' print plus a Rossetti. 'La Bella Mano '
Both delightful

well done. congrats on the cherry. well deserved!

-Jose

Many thanks insert, Jenny, Maisie, Barry, Pia and Jose for your heart-warming comments. I really wasn't sure about this though it was one I worked really hard on (many drafts) and delighted to know I managed to get there eventually. Most grateful to you all.

I was inspired to write this after seeing a Channel 4 documentary `Perspectives' - narrated by Sir Ian McKellan who hails from Lowry's neck of the woods. I never paid much attention to Lowry's work before but now I've been re-educated. Andrew Lloyd Webber presented this week's programme which co-incidentally featured the Pre-Raphaelites.

ScoZen - I don't do much of my own art work these days for many reasons though I would like to.

Many thanks for the cherry editors!

Back in the late sixties the poet, Denise Levertov, used to write political poetry as artistic commentary against the war in Vietnam. The 'social consciousness' shlock didn't work. She got too shrill and strident and, no matter that she had an international reputation as one of the major poets of the day, the poems were hackneyed and dumb.

You poem works because of your love of the craft. The honesty takes precedent over the more social or historical aspects and that's why it succeeds so well. Sorry if I tend to get long-winded, but I was thinking of the Levertov poem as I was reading yours which was far better and succeeded where hers failed miserably.

An extremely well written and evocative poem & congrats on the cherry.

Please don't apologise for being long-winded, Barry, as I appreciate your knowledge of writing and writers. It's really interesting what you say about Denise Levertov as she is one of my favourite poets so to be told my poem worked and just why it did is very encouraging to me.

I must check out DL's Vietnam poems as I'm not too familiar with those.

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment again.

Thanks very much OTT.

I caught the pre-raphelite one and enjoyed it despite the facial expressions of Andrew Lloyd Webber - missed the one with Lowry, I knew Albert Finney was from Salford but didn't realise Mckellan was also a Lancastrian. Never really thought about Lowry too much, he was just always on the wall when growing up - not sure why we had scenes of the industrial north on the walls, all we had to do was look out of the window. Very much enjoyed this seashore particularly 6 and 7 - tuneless rhythm of your clock-clutter chimes - out of time - is rather wonderful. :-)

Thanks fatboy - appreciate your feedback. I know what you mean about Andrew LW. Noel Gallagher also contributed to the Lowry programme and provided some interesting observations also. I was surprised at the impact it had on me as I had never really thought much about Lowry either - can't remember what was on our wall growing up, oh yes I can - a painting of Bristol Suspension Bridge!

I agree with all the compliments above. Great poem of imagination.

Thanks so much, hilary.

Wonderful & I especially liked:

"How did I see only crowds
without the spaces -
the uncluttered flake-whiteness
in between the shadow-less
folk"

I vaguely recall seeing a Lowry exhibition in Salford some years ago; wish I'd paid more attention...

Thanks so much for reading and commenting and picking out my `best bit', jib.

I know of Lowrie through his paintng but none of his personal life. All personal lives of poets seem to inspire great work. Certainly true in your case.

Thanks so much for that Geoff.

Just brilliant, Coral - your fascination with art is rubbing off on a lot of us!

Watched Antiques Roadshow a bit ago and somebody had brought in a serviette Lowry had doodled on - apparently he sketched it in a working men's club to keep a child entertained, which I thought was beautiful. I don't know too much about the lonely Salford man, other than that his paintings always draw my eye and that the story behind each one, and of the man himself, captivates me.

A lovely, well crafted tribute to one of the North's greatest treasures - well done, though I have you to blame for the song that won't leave my head now...'matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs', or something like that! Who wrote/sang that, do you know? I can't even remember how it goes now! ;oD

Rachel xx

What a lovely long comment, Rachel. Interesting about the serviette doodle - I didn't know that.

Yes I'm a recent convert to Lowry since watching the `Perspectives' documentary with Ian McKellan and Noel Gallagher - really interesting stuff.

Re the song - I know it's one of those annoying ones that won't leave you alone - I had to google it and it was by Michael and Brian.....I thought it was someone much more famous. Never heard of them, not that I can remember - have you? Maybe someone else recorded it too.

Anyway thanks for reading and for the chat.

Coral x

There used to be a big Lowry print at the dentist's waiting room. It's the best thing I've seen for taking your mind off injections and drills.
I liked "clock-clutter" it's exactly right. I could try to spell that word which begins with o and sounds like it should mean a squish of guache but actually means words sounding like their meaning. But I won't

Hello again, thanks for reading through my stuff - what a compliment.

I know the word you mean but my mind is a blank - oh no it isn't onomatapoea (but I know that spelling is totaly wrong!!). Something like that anyway

Hi seashore. This is another one I've stumbled upon while browsing. I may not always comment on your work (as you know, it's impossible to keep up with everyone when time is against you) but I read yours quite a lot. It is always excellent, and this one has great insight and a wonderful take on Lowry's work. I love your viewpoint and cherries well-deserved. Sorry I'm late with this comment.

Best wishes.

sue

Hi seashore. This is another one I've stumbled upon while browsing. I may not always comment on your work (as you know, it's impossible to keep up with everyone when time is against you) but I read yours quite a lot. It is always excellent, and this one has great insight and a wonderful take on Lowry's work. I love your viewpoint and cherries well-deserved. Sorry I'm late with this comment.

Best wishes.

sue

sue - it's always nice to have feedback and especially nice when it's an older piece! I appreciate that you look out for my work and know what you mean - it's impossible to keep up with as many pieces as one would like. Many thanks for the compliment - it means a lot.