A Turtle's Dream

Editorial Comment. — Abbey Lincoln [1930–2010] was the stage name of an American jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress whose real name was Anna Marie Wooldridge. Lincoln was one of many jazz singers influenced by Billie Holiday; her lyrics were often connected to the civil rights movement, and in 2003 she received a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Award. She composed this poem/song in 1994 and released it on her jazz album, “A Turtle's Dream.” It is a wonderful and slow melodic jazz piece that flows and glides along like a sea turtle swimming languidly in the open sea. I found it a couple of years ago when browsing on iTunes and loved it. It now lives happily on my iPod and I listen to it from time to time as I drive or fly and take my favorite music with me. If you...