by Julia Griffin

“Astrud Gilberto, bossa nova singer of The Girl from Ipanema, dies aged 83
Singer had no previous recording experience when she sang a defining song of Brazilian culture in 1963”
—The Guardian

Cool and cute señora Gilberto
Has left her shy amante half-muerto,
He grieves her passing,
And marks her passing with “Ah!”

Ah, but he’s brooding morosely;
Now bossa nova looks vieja;
Still, when he ponders more closely
Over black and white pics of Ms G,
He fancies it’s still ’63;

Then once more he’s there surveying
That cool, cute girl still swinging and swaying,
And though she’s passed he can smile,
Though she doesn’t see,
She just doesn’t see …