by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
Word is that president-elect Donald Trump still has performance openings for next week's inaugural. In the selfless and noble spirit of public service, our poet kindly offers his own services, and anxiously awaits a response from Rump tower.
A Poet's Proposal for DT's Inauguration
by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
Bet you wonderinā how I knew
Few are willinā to perform for you?
I heard it through the grapevine
Also on TV, radio and onlineā¦
I aināt A-listā
F-list, maybe?
Not a seven-figga n**** or War House Hoet in the
Retinue the Drone Ranger plays like plastic kazoosā
Yet, Iām willing to serve, sir:
Call it Patriot Act III!
Willing to audition, practice, rehearseāgratisā
get on the back of a Greyhound bus, brown bag,
greasy fried chicken, like the good olā daysā¦
Apply a plastic smile, applaud on cue, shuffle, shake hands with
Strong-arm Williams, Sheriff Stephen Judas Clarke, Thom-ass
Clarence, and other warlike Bassackwards Tribal leaders
Iām willing to get William Withers with you, sir:
Itās my appointed duty
To let you use me
Get me in a crowd of right-wing racists and act real rude to meā
āCause I wanna spread the news:
That if it trends this good gettinā used
Come on, use me ātil you use me upā
My fifteen-minutes of FLAME!!
Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performance artist. Find more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.
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āWe salute all peoples who are fighting/We honor all those who have died/For the cause of freedom.ā
This lecture was delivered on February 3, 2026, at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada) for the monthly series āBlack History and the Project of Black Studies.ā
