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

Porcine Doctrine
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
08 Oct 2014
🖨️ Print Article

by poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner

Breathe
Relax
Aim
Sight
Squeeze

 

Off bulls eyes on ‘suspects’ backs
’10 rings’ in ‘suspects’ chests
Rummage through trusty ‘war bags’ for
Guns with filed-off serial #s in baggies,
Get good prints from warm hands as
They bleed out, or just let the gun drop
From the baggy, beside the bleeding out 
‘Suspects,’ the shootees’ bodies—did your
Partner bark out cover-up commands?
“Drop the gun!” “Put down your weapon!”
“Don’t do it, Johnny!” “Stop resisting!”

It’s gonna be a “good shoot,” “in policy”
Now, gift-wrap the square, the circle, in
Yellow ribbon: POLICE LINE DO NOT 
CROSS; call for backup to secure the scene,
While you and your partner, huddle, and get
David Mametish, Michael Mannish, Octavia
Butlerish about what just went down and
The ‘suspects’ bleed out—dead men don’t
Talk, finger officers, file complaints or suits…

Not bad, third in three years, the crew
Will toast you in the bar tonight as you
Ponder paid vacation and desk duty…
“I feared for my safety, my partner’s safety”
“Suspicious activity” “Suspects were facing
The wall with their backs to my partner and
I, one hand on the wall and one hand at their…
Waistbands” “They disobeyed my command to 
Drop their weapons and turned slowly with dicks 
In their hands—which, in the dim light, that split 
Second, appeared to be small caliber handguns…”

Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at Raymond (at) upsurgejazz.com
Raymond Nat Turner © 2014 All Rights Reserved

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


More Stories


  • Black Girl Magic
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Black Girl Magic
    31 Dec 2019
    Artists Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé “represent a kind of ethos of Black political commitment in the 21st century, said Aria Halliday, professor of Women’s and Gender Stu
  • US War on Black and Brown Youth
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    US War on Black and Brown Youth
    31 Dec 2019
    “The term ‘gang’ is used for formations of young Black and brown men, but is never seriously used to describe the greatest purveyor of violence in the world, the US military,” said Jus
  • After Impeachment, What?
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    After Impeachment, What?
    31 Dec 2019
    Mumia Abu Jamal, the nation’s best known political prisoner and a prolific political analyst and author, said: “While history books will note that Donald Trump was impeached, beyon
  • A National Movement for Community Control of Police
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    A National Movement for Community Control of Police
    31 Dec 2019
    New York activists look forward to collaborating with the newly established National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression in creating a network to fight for community control of police
  • Anti-War Movement Must Adopt to Changing Imperial Wars
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Anti-War Movement Must Adopt to Changing Imperial Wars
    31 Dec 2019
    The US is expanding its wars and regime change plans, especially in its use of economic sanctions, which now target 39 countries containing one-third of the global population, said Sar
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us