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

Flattening the curve on Capitalism?
BAR Poet-in-Residence Raymond Nat Turner
01 Apr 2020
🖨️ Print Article
Flattening the curve on Capitalism?
Flattening the curve on Capitalism?

CEO from Boeing to CEO from Wells Fargo, 
heard by the flies on walls at Mar-a-Lago:
“It’s their health or our economy— we get to choose…”
“Yes, like ’08— Heads we win—and tails they loose?”
“Gentlemen, toast to health risk over economic risk—
and let’s be like Mike, with cures like stop and frisk…”

“Speaking candidly, Warren, billionaire to billionaire— 
so what if we lose a few million lives— we don’t care…” 
“Oh, sure some will get sick—and some might even die—
Jeff, they’ll be richly rewarded… in the bye and bye!”
“Our bible’s our shareholders’ and company’s charter—
so, Don, keeping the economy closed is a nonstarter…” 

Raytheon CEO whispering to the CEO of Goldman Sachs:
“There’s fools out there who think we’ve got their backs…”
“I say, ‘Let’s keep golfing and drinking Scotch on the rocks—
keeping our eyes on the market and dumping our stocks…”
“They’re always willing to risk their own lives and health—
‘Patriots,’ sacrificing their lives defending of our wealth…”
“We watch our portfolios, and they defend the homeland—
oh, it’s a class thing—but… they wouldn’t understand…”

“We’ll market it as ‘The Easter Sunday Resurrection—‘
FOX-box it with more ‘regime change’ misdirection…”
“Christ, churches will be like Petri dishes of infection—
but we can’t let a bearish market wreck Don’s $election…”

“Don, tell those with the lowest risk to return to work first—
the ‘weakened immune system’ ones will come out worst…”
“What the hell! To a bullish market starting Easter Sunday—
A red, white and blue, foam finger, ‘U-S-A, We’re # 1’ day…”
“Let’s drink to that Bill, Warren, Jeff, Mike—bottoms up—Olé— 
Gentlemen, bailout’s here again—TRILLIONS are on their way!!”
© 2020. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Prelude to a Test

Oh, a rich rapist was tested today—but not me?
Yes, he’s a billionaire, VIP— thus testee…

A basketball team was tested today—but not me?
Yes, they’re superstars and must play germ-free…

A rich actor was treated today—but not me?
Yes, we must keep his name up on the marquee… 

Didn’t a Texas politician die today for The Economy?
Guess that means he’s a much better man than me—
Or, one less Nazi babbling for the bourgeoisie?
Or, time to make noise demanding tests be FREE!!

© 2020. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

COMMENTS?

Please join the conversation on Black Agenda Report's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/blackagendareport

Or, you can comment by emailing us at comments@blackagendareport.com

poetry

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
POEM: Poem for Walter Rodney, Edward Kamau Brathwaite, 1981  
11 June 2025
“any where or world where there is love there is the sky and its blue free
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
A few lines for the Poet Ojenke...
21 May 2025
RIP: Rise In Poetics to Ra
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: Reflections after the June 12th March of Disarmament, Sonia Sanchez, 1982
18 December 2024
“I have come to you tonite not just for the stoppage
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Love My Black Job
11 September 2024
Love my Black Job— Black Student Union Job! Hired at L.A. City College As “The Peoples Poet!”
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: Enemy of the Sun, Samih al-Qasim, 1970
29 May 2024
Read against the terrible incineration of Rafah today, this poem of resistance and refusal, by Pa
Image of Refaat Alareer sitting in a crowd of graduates
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: If I Must Die, Refaat Alareer, 2023
13 December 2023
Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, a martyr of zionist state genocidal violence, has left us with a tale of resistance and hope.
Protest for Palestine at the White House
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Trigger Warning
22 November 2023
Trigger Warning Palestine’s the Answer— What was the Question?
Another June 1
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Another June 1
07 June 2023
                                       
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
16 February 2022
In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
Our ‘democracy’
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Our ‘democracy’
23 July 2021
Shangri-La—untaxed, socially-distanced champagne- caviar, Cayman Island, yacht crowds who

More Stories


  • Palestine Chronicle Staff
    Sole Survivor of ‘Paramedics Massacre’ in Rafah Exposes Israeli War Crime
    09 Apr 2025
    Monther Abed, the sole survivor of the Israeli attack on paramedics in Rafah, reveals the details of the crime in which 15 humanitarian workers were killed.
  • Jehad Abusalim
    "It Is Neither Death, Nor Suicide"
    09 Apr 2025
    For 76 years, Gaza has been has been the defiant heart of Palestinian resistance. Today, as Israel’s genocidal war lays bare the brutal dead end of Zionism, Gaza’s struggle transcends geography,…
  • Alan MacLeod
    Betar: the Far-Right Hate Group Helping Trump Deport Israel’s Critics
    09 Apr 2025
    Betar U.S., a far-right Zionist organization with ties to violent extremism, is quietly shaping Trump administration policy, compiling lists of pro-Palestine activists for deportation while openly…
  • Hands Off protest
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist , Dr.Wilmer J. Leon, III
    Ajamu Baraka on What the Hands Off March Left Out
    09 Apr 2025
    Tens of thousands filled the streets this weekend—marching, chanting, fists raised in defiance. It looked like a movement powerful enough to shake the earth. But beneath the banners and speeches,…
  • Socialist Workers Movement of the Dominican Republic
    The march in Friusa failed and the neo-fascist movement was divided
    09 Apr 2025
    The Dominican far-right’s violent march on Friusa collapsed in disarray, exposing weakness in the movement as racist mobs failed to overrun a working-class community. However, the threat remains.…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us