Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire
  • omnibus

Avotcja’s Love…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
22 Mar 2023
Avotcja’s Love…

                                                                     

                                                                                            Avotcja’s Love…

                                                                      “…Your love…means everything to me…”  

                                                                     —Charles Wright, Watts 103rd Street Band

 

Used to fret, whine, twist worry beads
outta shape. Used to pout like a 6th grader
starting pre-school. Used to burden my
Wife-to-be with questions concealing
statements. And statements concealing
Questions: “I don’t think Avotcja likes me…”

Used to be bothered by unceremoniously
curt, gruff, brusque, businesslike behavior.
“The seasoned Sister’s in a New York state
of mind—she’ll be over it in a New York
Minute…” Asserted my NYC Wife-to-be…

Fast forwarding a few million minutes—I
Love the way Avotcja starts spreadin’ the
Blues-infused news…Slipping, sliding—
smoothly—Spanish to Spanglish to English
and back again—Bouncing it off walls and
elephant ears of satellite dishes
picking up maternal music frequency words…
Love her electric-throned—Super Shero—
defiant/reliant; No quit grit! Out organizing, out
Working, out fighting—Out
Loving our temporarily-abled…tired asses…

Once heard her weaponized words put a pimp
across her knee—spank his ass…Make him ask,
“Mother, may I…get outta the game…get a gig
Driving Ms Daisy? Ms Mary? Ms Matty? Any
Senior sisters needin’ to shop—get to the bank—
See the doctor?!”

Fast forwarding a few million minutes—I
Love hearing “Papi Was a Dancing Man”
of crackling, triumphant, Presto-log love—
Warmth for entering from frost… Warm shower,
Wool blanket, hot apple cider, home-cooked meal
Love

Love making arrows make u-turns
midair
Love making embarrassed bullets drop
to streets in supplication and apology…

And, yes, I’m grateful she calls me her
“Brother from another Mother—” And
has Papi-love left… for sharing with me…

© 2023. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is a NYC poet; BAR's Poet-in-Residence; and founder/co-leader of the jazz-poetry ensemble UpSurge!NYC. You can Vote for his work at: GoFundMe and PayPal.

Music

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles. Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


Related Stories

Editors, The Black Agenda Review
ESSAY: In Our Hands: Thoughts on Black Music, Bernice Johnson Reagon, 1976
31 July 2024
For the late Dr.
For Larry Roland
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
For Larry Roland
08 March 2023
                                                                                                                          For Larry Roland
A lil’ homegoing homage to Brother Donald…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
A lil’ homegoing homage to Brother Donald…
27 April 2022
Donald Smith always performe
Photo: Kevin W. Thorbourne
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Bird, strings, Big Chief: 100: Harlem (For Charlie Parker/Donald Harrison/Harlem Symphony Orchestra)
08 September 2021
Bird, strings, Big Chief: 100: Harlem (For Charlie Parker/Donald Harrison/Harlem Symphony Orchestra)  

More Stories


  • Community Movement Builders - Newark
    CMB Newark Statement on the Delaney Hall Uprising
    18 Jun 2025
    When oppression becomes unbearable, resistance erupts. The uprising at Delaney Hall exposes the brutality of immigrant detention and the power of collective defiance.
  • Sean Matthews
    Arab Officials Say There is a Strong Likelihood US Will 'Directly' Join Israel in Attacking Iran
    18 Jun 2025
    Three informed Arab officials, in touch with both the US and Iran, tell Middle East Eye that the White House appears to be moving closer to 'backing up' Israel.
  • Palestine Chronicle Staff
    Aid Queue Massacres Continue in Gaza as UN Warns of Mass Starvation
    18 Jun 2025
    Israeli occupation forces shot and killed several Palestinians on Sunday morning across various regions of the Gaza Strip, as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.
  • Ajamu Baraka
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist , Garland Nixon
    US Imperialism Has Set the Middle East on Fire
    18 Jun 2025
    Ajamu Baraka, Black Agenda Report Editor and Columnist, joins Garland Nixon to discuss Israel's aggression in West Asia and the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
  • BAR Radio Logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio June 13, 2025
    13 Jun 2025
    In this week’s segment, we hear about how a tornado impacted the Black community of St. Louis, which already suffered as a result of decades of destructive public policy. But first, we discuss…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us