Sweet Beguilement [revised] Poem by Margaret Alice Second

They who lament absence of technique and mature sound
in young upstarts & wannabes who, even before 10 years
of age imitate opera greats, belt out ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’
with shrill voices yet sweet middle register – should state
which role models they would decree for these singers
who value and excellence so much

Should they be denied joy in singing like their favourite
‘artistes’ because they’re too young to possess mature
vocal chords, remain in shadows until years of singing
classes perfect their diction, depriving the masses that
sweet beguilement offered by these talented dreamers;
or should they all imitate modern pop stars

Celestial music rendered in very young voices holds
such beautiful promise it charms more than an expert
lyrical rendering of emotional distress threatening 17yr
olds; like scenes of an expansive Diva’s mature Valkyrie
who trills threats to papa in shaky voice overpowered
by emotion, hiccupping with carefully wrought tears…

Here we have a great problem and eternal conundrum;
we only find 10yr olds or large Grande Dames singing
these songs: Why no 17yr olds? And ‘Nessum Dorma',
so dramatically destroyed by the three tenors in André
Rieu’s concerts so much so that I must bypass them
when concentrating against the background music -

Sung so enchantingly in Amira’s immature sweet voice,
shrill in high notes but controlled by adding cute shy
vibrato - oh heavens, how masterly she controls it, just
needs time to develop better vocal chords, thus Nessum
Dorma is restored, like resurrection belief in Biblical
characters, joy in musical prodigies heroic attempts

Can’t be measured or taken away while we have free
access to the Internet…