1926 - 2010
our joan
la stupenda
the greatest bel canto
to date
not a sports star
so does not count for much
down here in
Philistinia
the diva's childhood home
sold off to a chinese billionaire
spent millions destroying /renovating it
then reselling
no heritage listing
no preserving the building
intact for posterity
no plaque
for la stupenda
unrecognizable
this lovely 19th century home
'clyde cottage'
brutally reduced to a souless mcmansion
resembles an office block
i used to leave a flower
now i walk on the other side
don't look - hold my breath
dark thoughts rumbling
willing brewing a storm
to rain down dynamite sticks
on this edifice of disgraceful disrespect
our diva song bird
her top notes made angels grin
her country sadly deaf
Heeding Haiku with Chevrefeuille - MLMM
Wonder-filled tribute!
ReplyDeleteI was a Sutherland fan along with Leontyne Price
Leontyne Price was very good but our Joan had the edge on all of them....no one to match her since.All that swimming in the bogey hole at Bronte beach when she was a kid makes for good lungs:)
ReplyDeleteColour me angry. Lovely words. Sad content.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully poignant, Rall ❤️
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, such desecration! Where was the heritage society? You are right, it was transformed into what looks like an office block. ARGH!
ReplyDeleteOh it is dreadful how they disrespected the meaning, the history of this special place and for your Joan. Love your last lines.
ReplyDeleteI started the video and began to read your path and looking at the pictures... after a sad understanding... I ended up listening until the end. I think I'm in love :)
ReplyDeleteZQ
I am glad you were so moved by her singing. She was wonderful.
DeleteSome songs soar to heaven..
ReplyDeleteShe really was the best, absolutely world class opera singer of her day and will not be forgotten. However her childhood home was not on our minds when we listened to her but the opera houses where she performed are.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare's house is not on one's mind either when reading the plays but your original country at least has a tradition of preserving the birth places and homes of its great citizens for posterity .
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that sad fact! Thank you for recording it so eloquently.
ReplyDelete