New World (1937)

The Czech Philharmonic
under Szell
cosying up to
London microphones.

A cor anglais plays
plaintively through
the crackle – a fire
that’s just beginning
while the players
like servants to the Lord
Chamberlain wait for it
to catch that piece
of paper waving from
the grate, and shiver.

Even the steady pluck
and gut of their Slavonic
strings can do nothing
but follow the beat
until the bar
where the brass will enter

John Greening