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A Turtle's DreamAuthor(s): Abbey LincolnSource: Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 11(2):276-276. 2012.Published By: Chelonian Research FoundationDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2744/1071-8443-11.2.276URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.2744/1071-8443-11.2.276

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Editorial Introduction. — This section is devoted to poetry involving turtles, representing either reprinted previously published ornew unpublished material. We encourage our readers to submit poetry or songs for consideration, either their own material or work byother authors. Poems may be submitted to Anders G.J. Rhodin at Chelonian Research Foundation [RhodinCRF@aol.com].

Our desire is to share with our readers the beauty and wonder of turtles as expressed through the art of the poem or song. In thesense that the relationship between man and turtles is multifaceted, so too is turtle poetry. The poems we publish here will reflect thatcomplexity, from poems of pure admiration for the creatures themselves to others reflecting the utilization of turtles and their products.Some poems will reflect man s use of the turtle for sustenance, others will stress man s need to preserve and protect turtles. Some will dealwith our emotional interactions with turtles, others will treat turtles light-heartedly or with seeming disrespect, but all will hopefully helpus to better understand both the human and the chelonian condition, and remind us that the turtle holds a sacred place in all our hearts.

Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2012, 11(2): 276

A Turtle’s Dream1

ABBEY LINCOLN

Editorial Comment. — Abbey Lincoln [1930–2010] was the stage name of an American jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actresswhose real name was Anna Marie Wooldridge. Lincoln was one of many jazz singers influenced by Billie Holiday; her lyrics wereoften connected to the civil rights movement, and in 2003 she received a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Award. Shecomposed this poem/song in 1994 and released it on her jazz album, ‘‘A Turtle’s Dream.’’ It is a wonderful and slow melodic jazzpiece that flows and glides along like a sea turtle swimming languidly in the open sea. I found it a couple of years ago when browsingon 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 musicwith me. If you love turtles, especially sea turtles, and wonderful and slow jazz, then you need to listen to this piece and be transportedinto Abbey Lincoln’s deep blue ocean and experience her evocative portrait of this slowly gliding turtle’s dream.

1 Composed and copyright 1994, published April 1995, compact disc, Verve 527 382-2, c1995, Moseka Music.

often I sing when I’m all alone,

and no one can see me but me.

i think and wonder what i am

and how i came to be.

i can swim the ocean,

and it’s deep and wide,

and in the house above me

abide.

maybe one day i’ll fly like an eagle,

fly like a bird and go and go.

soar like an eagle,

walk like a lion,

although it won’t be i know.

but i can swim the ocean,

and it’s deep and wide,

and in the house above me

abide.

i guess the time has come for me to go.

and look around for something, oh,

just moving in my house you know.

moving slowly is not really bad,

moving slowly you see

the wonders of the deep,

just waiting there for me.

and i can swim the ocean,

and it’s deep and wide,

and in the house above me

abide.

and in the house above me

abide…

TURTLE POETRY