Another Sunday Morning with Sam

I dare any grumpy soul to watch a sunrise while listening to Sam Cooke and I'll be damned if your hips don't start moving and love doesn't fill your heart.

Our Another Sunday Morning with Sam

By 

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

"A change is gonna come." - Sam Cooke

If a voice could color the hopeful optimism of Autumn

It would be his. 

A verse sung with a smoothness that would make angels blush

or pastel colors melt and bleed into envy 

With a tone that evoked the residuals of our deepest sorrows

but the idealistic expectations of a better day coming 

He sang with a voice that made you believe in the spiritual

that behind great billowy clouds hid a greater love

In the tabernacle of all things his sound would rise the highest

and spring forth like a parting sea towards a hopeful day

He could make the saddest song beautiful and aspirational 

remind us of what it was like to be children again and young lovers

His music could make the most stoic heart smile and hips shimmy

and calm the most angered spirit bringing forth a need to twist the night away

The soft silk and tender playfulness of timbre can turn a chord from a trickle 

into a grand unwavering shatter of a waterfall 

Nothing defines Sunday mornings watching the sunrise more

than listening to Sam Cooke while it happens; for sentimental reasons... 

Author's Note

"What a wonderful world this would be" if "Cupid" sang for me. I would be "twistin the night away" because "You send me" to heaven all "for sentimental reasons". From Sam...with love

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Sam Cooke, "The King of Soul" is a legend and his music will raise your spirits and his voice will transform one into a soulful mood, a swing type aura of nothing like his imposing voice....I love the way you structured this poem...likening him to a God of sorts.... who has the power to make one mesmerized and he could bring joy to all who listened....He is even better than watching a magnificent sunrise.....
Beautiful Carlos! SO HAPPY you're back!
Best, B

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you B for your sweet comment to this piece. There is a reverence I have for music that is undeniable. Whether listening to Sam or the Beatles their soulful profound lyrics and voices take me to a holy place. It is the best of us, our truer nature. Poetry in lyric and sound, and a greater love. I would be remiss not to mention Mr Neil Diamond as well. I just listened to his classic duet with Barbara Streisand "You Don't bring me Flowers". Every time I hear that song I'm reminded of my parents and their tragic love affair. That even in the anger and rage there is a powerful love that exists there that only they could ever know. Thus is music and the poetry that gives it life and meaning. For it's what transcends the heart of the matter and shows who we are wrinkles and imperfections in us all. If God is love than it is the most beautiful love song ever heard. CLE

[Betty Hermelee]

DITTO!!! I love all those singers you mentioned in your critique.... so nostalgic and soul calming;
So glad you're back on the scene!
Best, B.