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

Buzzed In By Lewis
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
01 Feb 2018
🖨️ Print Article

5 in the morning, ‘The Lewis Sawyer Experience’
early morning Boys Club in Papa Sawyer’s Cave:
My lick for Lewis, “Lewis Sawyer, is my lawyer—”
his classic chuckle-comeback, “Well, you’re in bad shape then!”
Poets and last words, “Well, David McBurney is my attorney…”
But Lewis was a bullhorn, shouting names of our Political Prisoners,
Prisoners Of War, languishing forgotten in gulags across imprisoned
nation. He put 59,000 watts beneath their wings,without fanfare—
While reminding us: we’re just in Minimum Security…

Being buzzed in to the Mother Ship by Lewis
felt safe, welcome—presence appreciated—in
Good hands, a trillion times more reliable than Allstate
Lewis was the first face I’d see at the station—
unerring source for five-star information

Warmth was his uniform; his smile his badge,
reflecting respect back like a mirror from the
Mountaintop: all the authority a badass Angel,
sweet scientist, who could handle ‘situations…’
Required; I emerged from ‘Lewis Sawyer Experiences’
with double shot expresso optimism

A modest, minimalist, Monk life-stylist—
Count Basie of Kindness—
Not a whole lot of notes there
but his voicings sung and swung;
Duke Ellington of Passion:
Things he loved, he loved madly—
speaking of love—Lewis was LOVE
Not a mushy, gushy, sentimental bubblegum LOVE
But, an I believe in you, when no one else believes LOVE
I honor your light, anything I can do to amplify it LOVE
As you stand on stage, I’ll sit in the audience LOVE
Anything you need early in the morning LOVE
Release your worry beads, I got your back LOVE
Harness your hardships, “too big to fail” LOVE

Let’s suppose that place
preachers speak of Sundays
Exists; suppose I make the cut—
I bet Lewis will be there buzzing me in… Lewis Sawyer:
Presente!

poetry

More Stories


  • The Impact of Cobalt Extraction on the Congo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    The Impact of Cobalt Extraction on the Congo
    24 Feb 2023
    Maurice Carney is Executive Director of Friends of the Congo. He joins us to discuss cobalt, one of Congo’s mineral resources and one that plays a large role in green energy projects. But Congo’s…
  • The State of Mississippi Fights Jackson's Black Leadership
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    The State of Mississippi Fights Jackson's Black Leadership
    24 Feb 2023
    Nsombi Lambright is Executive Director of One Voice, a statewide non-profit located in Jackson, Mississippi. She joins us to discuss a legislative proposal to create a new court system within the…
  • Ukraine One Year On
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Ukraine One Year On
    24 Feb 2023
    Margaret Kimberley participated in a February 21 webinar sponsored by the United National Anti-War Coalition, Ukraine One Year On. These are excerpts of her remarks.
  • No to War, No to NATO: North American Perspectives on Ukraine, Russia, and NATO
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    No to War, No to NATO: North American Perspectives on Ukraine, Russia, and NATO
    24 Feb 2023
    Margaret Kimberley was a panelist on a February 19 webinar entitled “No to War, No to NATO: North American perspectives on Ukraine, Russia, and NATO” which was hosted by the organization World Beyond…
  • National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa Support Mumia Abu Jamal
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa Support Mumia Abu Jamal
    24 Feb 2023
    U.S. political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal has supporters around the world. Irvin Jim, General Secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, discusses his support of Mumia’s fight for…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us