LA CONCHA WINE BAR, LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY

It is forbidden to dream again;

We maim our joys or hide them. (George Orwell)

An unseasonal sun

fires the little socialist in me.

Just off the train

and staight into the red wine

in the La Concha Bar. 

My first time in Letchworth

and such a thirst

for deeper knowledge

in this Garden City.

I’m in Orwell’s footsteps,

no street bears his name,

my brain

strides in his shade,

on his way to a Summer School

and to war in Spain.

I’m keeping that aspidistra flying

in the torment,

scanning the Letchworth Citizen

for any news of the Labour Party 

turning left.

I will announce myself

to the girls in the garden,

go red in the afternoon,

sneak into David’s Bookshop

for a preview of the blueprint

of the new dawn.

For now,

this day is dancing

flamenco in the warm skies

of flown illusions.

Let us create

a festival for George 

in the prickly heat

of a place 

where ideals 

lie gathering bluebottles

on a traffic island

while castanets flicker 

like precious minutes 

spent

in Barcelona.

KEITH ARMSTRONG

Letchworth Garden City, September 2012

A lovely day and a superb meal we 

enjoyed there! 


(Peter Common)