Two Magdas
One final Adriana
One more to demonstrate,
One more to teach.
Never taking leave of stage
Until she had given
Her last taunts
Their fullest speech.
One Corgi farewell tour
To Fire isle,
To cove-like beach,
Giving thanks in wintry mountains,
Letting my children and theirs
View up close
Your final reach.
Dying in tandem,
Prize to prize,
Each with each,
Two namesakes whose time had come.
May they meet up
Together somewhere
Beyond the final breach.
Magda Olivero
I only saw Magda Olivero, a legendary verista soprano, once as Tosca in Boston. She sang as defying time with such authenticity, truth, and passion. She died recently at the age of 104. She was a messenger from the legendary operatic past.
Magda, Our Beloved Welsh Corgi
We named our Welsh Corgi, Magda, after the soprano. She had her own Corgi authenticity. She died the same year as her namesake. I started writing poems as the only fitting response.
