Home » Poems » Gary Radice » Land of Lost Shadows: A Tribute To L S Lowry

Gary Radice - Premium Member

Notes About The Poem

Poem published: 27th January 2022

This poem was placed 1st in the "A STRAND (1060)" contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 26th February 2022)

Poetry Soup's POEM OF THE DAY (28th January 2022)

L.S. Lowry (1887 - 1976) was an English artist made famous for his paintings of industrial scenes in Northern England that depict the bleakness and loneliness of urban life. His paintings were often inhabited by his stylised 'matchstick' figures.

L.S. Lowry's "Coming From The Mill" (Oil on canvas 1930)

Land of Lost Shadows: A Tribute To L S Lowry

land of lost shadows
and unweathered skies

five urban colours
through unflinching eyes

tall distant chimneys
and schoolyards at play

smoke drifting sideways
in stillness each day

sketches on packets
of stained cigarettes

strange brooding faces
and marionettes

people bent walking
with heads looking down

 - if lowry was living
he'd have painted my town.

Copyright © Gary Radice | Year Posted 2022

♡Like0

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

1

September 21, 2025 at 8:36 AM

Dear Gary, your poetic brevity is stunning with clear, crisp imagery of life in an industrial town. You captured the melancholy and grit of the place and the isolation of individuals with pithy strokes of your gifted poetic pen. "people bent walking/with heads looking down" - the sense of loneliness, disconnection, within a crowd is striking. Congratulations for your continued success in Mark's contest. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

September 23, 2025 at 9:53 AM

Wow! Susan. What lovely comments. Yes, the loneliness, disconnect and life's trudge is beautifully depicted by Lowry's matchstick figures and I'll add that when it comes to where I live, and probably where many do, people can be seen with their heads looking down at their phones. LOL! Not much has changed over the years :) Cheers - Gary

September 18, 2025 at 9:59 PM

Gary, your brief couplets are like Lowry’s brushstrokes that one by one reveal the entire picture. The last two lines literally bring it home. Congratulations on your top 10 win on Mile 16 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 17 has already started.

September 20, 2025 at 9:14 PM

Thank you Mark. Love your comments. Cheers - Gary

Tony Hargreaves

March 15, 2022 at 12:51 PM

Hi Gary. Enjoyed this poem. Many thanks. I think I recognise some features in Lowry's painting. Industrial landscapes: I remember the images well and the sights and the smell. All the best. Tony

March 16, 2022 at 2:36 AM

Thanks for your visit Tony and for your comments. I appreciate it all. I think industrial landscapes have a beauty all of their own. For me, Lowry's paintings are able to capture that certain beauty. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

February 28, 2022 at 12:41 PM

Gary - this is really wonderful, you have beautifully captured the essence of the painting, the last three stanza's really pulls it all together - really liked this poem and Congratulations on your 1st place win and Poem of the Day! David

March 1, 2022 at 12:35 AM

Thank you David! I wrote this after walking around my local town and comparing what I saw that day with Lowry's work. Cheers - Gary

February 24, 2022 at 9:30 AM

Hi Gary, I like this a lot. As you describe the theme of the poem, I am reminded of Edward Hopper, perhaps my favorite 20th-century painter, who often painted scenes of loneliness and desolation. Anyway, good job with your poem. My own poems are strictly impersonal.

February 24, 2022 at 2:22 PM

Hi Bryan. I love Hopper's work. His colours helped portray a stillness and melancholy in his paintings of 'daily life scenes'. They ooze atmosphere in a similar way I think Lowry's do albeit styles are different. Thanks for your visit. Cheers - Gary.

February 24, 2022 at 9:44 AM

February 21, 2022 at 1:34 AM

Love the L S Lowry ref. Many thanks, Gary.

February 21, 2022 at 2:25 AM

My pleasure Andrew. Thank you for reading and commenting. Cheers - Gary

February 18, 2022 at 5:28 PM

i really love this

February 18, 2022 at 11:44 PM

That's very pleasing to hear. Thank you Thea and I'm really looing forward to reading your poetry once up at Poetry Soup. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Geoffrey Brewer

February 15, 2022 at 5:20 AM

An eloquent word description of Lowry’s evocative atmospheric scenes conveying a world now gone. The painting you chose is particularly poignant. Very moving, Gary.

February 15, 2022 at 5:51 AM

Thanks Geoffrey for your wonderful words. I find a certain beauty in Lowry's work and feel a certain sense of (misplaced?) romanticism for those lost times. It all just resonates with me. Cheers - Gary

January 31, 2022 at 4:25 PM

Gary, your words so aptly portray the bleakness of the painting and the painting so poignantly portrays the rat race feeling of industrial, de-humanizing civilization. Your words were carefully chosen for a smooth flow and for casting an ominous, brooding sense. Very well done, a fave for me, and my hearty congratulations for your POTD honor ~ John

February 1, 2022 at 1:19 AM

Thank you so much John. I remember seeing one of his paintings many moons ago and not being impressed at all. Forward many years and a trip to The Lowry gallery had me re-evaluating his work. Cheers and read you soon - Gary

January 31, 2022 at 9:27 AM

Wonderful poem, Gary. Your first two lines really got me--so sad. It seems also a tribute to those who trudge on to industry's call--same job, same town, same life...I'm going to look at his paintings, if they're online. Congratulations on your win :)

January 31, 2022 at 11:49 AM

Thank you Ann. Lowry, to me, captured the very essence of what you describe; the every day drudge, the lack of colour..It's exactly what I love about his work. Cheers - Gary

Connie Marcum Wong

January 30, 2022 at 6:47 PM

Your fantastic Ekphrasis exemplifies Lowry’s art through a poet’s eyes in exquisite fashion Gary. I really love this. I am Faving it. Congratulations on your well deserved POTD honor. Blessings xxoo

January 31, 2022 at 11:46 AM

Connie, thank you so much for your continued support and of course the fave. I truly appreciate your valued input. Cheers - Gary

January 28, 2022 at 10:22 PM

Congrats Gary! Great poem.

January 28, 2022 at 10:26 PM

Thanks Jennifer. It took a bit of tweaking but I finally got there. Cheers - Gary

January 28, 2022 at 8:13 PM

*if lowry was living* He would say that you have created a Masterpiece. This is so beautiful and tender. Congratulations Gary, on Poem of the Day. My best to you. :) Hugs, Brandy

January 28, 2022 at 10:16 PM

Thanks so much Brandy for such high praise. My very best to you too. Cheers - Gary

January 28, 2022 at 5:30 PM

A wonderfully visual that would rival the painting..."strange brooding faces and marionettes"... just brilliant writing...

January 28, 2022 at 10:14 PM

Thanks John. Much appreciated. Lowry painted brooding portraits and drew strange marionette figures; the latter, I believe, were only discovered at his home after his death. I have to add that some people we saw on our walk also fitted that description :) Cheers - Gary

Suzanne Delaney

January 28, 2022 at 1:07 PM

Street crowds are always fascinating. Congrats Gary on a beautiful poem. SuZ

January 28, 2022 at 1:23 PM

Thanks Suz! Agreed - they are. Lowry painted many during his lifetime. Cheers - Gary

Constance La France

January 28, 2022 at 12:57 PM

Gary, your poem is absolutely beautiful and so impressive and congratulations on your deserving POEM OF THE DAY honor ~

January 28, 2022 at 1:14 PM

Thank you Constance. I find a certain beauty in bleakness and I'm not sure what that says about me. :) Cheers - Gary

Gnikreklaw Walkerking

January 28, 2022 at 11:50 AM

Congrats Gary on POTD! I absolutely adore this poem.

January 28, 2022 at 12:17 PM

Thank you - that's great to hear. ..and I've just realised your 'first name' is your surname backwards! :) I truly appreciate your visit. Cheers - Gary

Cathy Strackbein

January 28, 2022 at 11:27 AM

Your poem reminds me of the abandoned steel mills of Pennsylvania. Congrats on POTD!!

January 28, 2022 at 11:39 AM

Hi Cathy. Thank you for your visit. It's great to hear that my poem reminds you of the Pennsylvania steel mills. Many of Lowry's industrial paintings depicted Pendlebury in the city of Salford near Manchester England where he lived. Cheers - Gary

January 28, 2022 at 10:51 AM

Gary, Congratulations on POTD. Well written! Best~ Warren

January 28, 2022 at 11:14 AM

Thank you Warren for your great comments. I really appreciate them Cheers - Gary

L Milton Hankins

January 28, 2022 at 9:42 AM

Back to say Congratulations, Gary. You certainly did deserve P.O.T.D. for this fine poem!

January 28, 2022 at 11:12 AM

Hi Milt and thanks again for your continued support. Cheers - Gary

Paulette Calasibetta

January 28, 2022 at 8:40 AM

Congratulations on your well deserved POTD! You have created a artful masterpiece that should be hanging on a wall, side by side with Lowry's works. I love this!!!! Paulette

January 28, 2022 at 11:08 AM

Hi Paulette. Wow! What great comments. Thank you! Cheers - Gary

January 28, 2022 at 8:38 AM

Congrats on POTD, Gary I enjoyed the poem. You painted the picture like an artist. Blessings ~ Debra

January 28, 2022 at 11:04 AM

Thank you Debra. I'm really glad you liked it. I truly appreciate your comments. Cheers - Gary

January 28, 2022 at 8:33 AM

Congratulations on POTD, Gary, great imagery and flow in your verse.

January 28, 2022 at 7:05 PM

Thank you :)

January 28, 2022 at 11:01 AM

Thank you Eve and I believe congratulations to you too: Happy Belated Birthday! :) Cheers - Gary x

January 28, 2022 at 8:27 AM

Congratulations for the honor POTD, Gary Excellent rhyming and imagery. I could easily picture the town painted. Thank you for sharing your poetry with us. I'm your newest follower. Bill

January 28, 2022 at 10:57 AM

Hi Bill. Thank you for your visit, read, comments and following :) I'll be setting time aside to catch up on my viewing of others poems so will certainly read you soon. Look forward to it. Cheers - Gary

Paula Goldsmith

January 28, 2022 at 7:40 AM

Congratulations on your POTD win. L. S. Lowry paintings are with paints. Your paintings are with words. "Beautiful" Have a blessed day writing/painting with words away...................

January 28, 2022 at 8:00 AM

Thank you Paula. I love the idea of painting with words. Cheers - Gary

1

Get a Premium Membership

Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.

Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace