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

[Andra Dare]

What a gorgeous, soul awakening poem, Carlos! Thank you.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly for your comment on this piece. Writing these words I couldn't think of any better way of describing a sunrise on a Sunday morning. It was a joy to express myself in such a meaningful and optimistic way.. much like Sam Cooke's music. Thank you so much again for your kind comment.

[slfisher89]

exquisite use of language, wonderful homage to a song, and love the melodic tone

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Sam Cooke was an amazing singer. One can not listen to his music and not be inspired to love. When he sings of sadness it breaks the heart. But when he sango love; he made believe and yearn to be. Thank you kindly for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem.

[Ladysue]

Carlos, Sunday morning and Sam Cook. Beautiful. I like the title and I like Sam Cooke too. His voice is smooth alright. This poem of yours not only reads smoothly but is a beautiful tribute to him.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you. I've been listening to a lot of Sam lately. Especially during my long drive home through the scenic mountains in Monterey California. His angelic voice and haunting melodies are a pure wonder. He not only sings of love but makes you believe in it more.

[Gee]

So many great singers in the 50's and 60's, would loved to have been a teen in that era. Gonna Google and have a listen now.
A finely crafted piece

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Gee and I totally agree. Music back then really inspired us to be and dream to be better. Whether the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Simon and Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin, or the countless many singers of that era. Hope was always one song away with them. CLE

[Soren]

A lovely tribute to an artist that I loved and brings back so many memories of yesteryear, when looking back, times were simpler. Thanks for the memories.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Soren. His voice and music always haunt me but in a good way. His music has healed my heart many a time when it was broken. And it always has a way of inspiring me to keep on loving even when I know it is tough too. Good music always makes us want to be better people. CLE

[hazy]

Your use of language in this poem is fantastic, even just the words you use are making me want to get up and dance. I find that the some of the best moments in life happen when music carries us away, almost like living in a movie montage. Great work.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate your comment. Music does that to every heart. It could turn a moment in our daily life into a movie. And it could remind us of all those little memories that are pieces of our greater story. I would like to imagine that when our final moment comes there will be the briefest sound of the most beautiful haunting music we have ever heard guiding us forward. Thank you again. CLE

[Kelly Scheppers]

A singer by the name of Seal does a cover of this song. He captures Sam's brilliance in delivering its message. Much enjoyed this one, Carlos. My body was definitely swaying!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

thank you Kelly for your kind words. Listening to Sam Cooke sing is like falling into a bed of roses. Or laying on a roof in a summer's night watching the stars twinkle. It brings such a spiritual tranquility to me. You can hear the profound gospel roots within each precious note sung no matter the theme of the music. He brings a spirituality to "Chain Gang" that is absolutely heartbreaking yet moving aspirationally towards hope. In "I’ll Come Running Back to You" he captures the youthful exuberance of wrong love and why we yearn for the things that are not good for us. His music has soul, and it is from there that he sings to us and touches ours. Thank you so much again. CLE

[Dave Brown]

it is an exceptional gift to be born with a singing voice
I find my efforts at singing are the fastest way to empty an auditorium

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

You are not alone my friend. I couldn't carry a tune if it had legs arms and a body. But I sure love music, and despite my awful singing voice I never stop trying. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me my friend.

[Lorry]

The world could be doing with a few barrowloads more of better days just about now Carlos and who could argue against what a wonderful day it would be.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Lorry for sharing your thoughts with me. I totally agree with you. We live in cynical times and it's so easy to be pessimistic. I would be lying if I didn't say at times I've felt the same. But the creative part of me clings to hope. It's what drives me to write. Because I want to cling to the hope that we are better as a species than what we have exhibited. Look at our art and all the beautiful things we are capable of. It reflects our hopes. CLE

[W. Barrett Munn]

wonderfully crafted with great rhythm in the lines.The great Sam Cooke would approve.


Winston

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly Winston for this kind comment. I could listen to his soulful music all day and consider the time used as valuable in a life. From Chain Gang to You send me, his music is timeless. And his voice purely angelic. I hold him in the highest regard as an artist and vocalist. And just an amazing human being who sang to make this world a better place for us all. CLE