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

A Poet's Proposal for DT's Inauguration
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
10 Jan 2017
🖨️ Print Article

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 wonderin’ how I knew

Few are willin’ to perform for you?

I heard it through the grapevine

Also on TV, radio and online…

I ain’t A-list—

F-list, maybe?

Not a seven-figga n**** or War House Hoet in the

Retinue the Drone Ranger plays like plastic kazoos—

Yet, I’m willing to serve, sir:

Call it Patriot Act III!

Willing to audition, practice, rehearse—gratis—

get on the back of a Greyhound bus, brown bag,

greasy fried chicken, like the good ol’ days…

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

I’m willing to get William Withers with you, sir:

It’s my appointed duty

To let you use me

Get me in a crowd of right-wing racists and act real rude to me—

‘Cause I wanna spread the news:

That if it trends this good gettin’ used

Come on, use me ‘til you use me up—

My fifteen-minutes of FLAME!!

Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performance artist. Find more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.

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


More Stories


  • Mr. Magoo, what’s new? “Oh, say, can you see?”
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Mr. Magoo, what’s new? “Oh, say, can you see?”
    22 Jul 2022
    I. Didn’t Lynne say something like, “The law’s What they say it is…today…” (????????????????) Didn’t Lenin say something like, “The state is an
  • Black Agenda Radio July 22, 2022
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio July 22, 2022
    22 Jul 2022
    The anniversary of the Sandinista revolution and a Central American zone of peace, the end of Roe v. Wade and American politics, and Biden administration aggression against Russia and China and the…
  • Nicaragua and a Central American Zone of Peace
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Nicaragua and a Central American Zone of Peace
    22 Jul 2022
    On July 19, 1979 Sandinista forces emerged victorious after years of struggle against the U.S. backed Somoza dictatorship. We talk to Netfa Freeman who is in Nicaragua about the significance of these…
  • The End of Roe V. Wade and American Politics
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    The End of Roe V. Wade and American Politics
    22 Jul 2022
    Pascal Robert discussed the impending end of the Roe v. Wade decision, and how the Supreme Court and American politics created this new crisis.
  • Biden's War Propaganda
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Biden's War Propaganda
    22 Jul 2022
    Danny Haiphong and Margaret Kimberley discuss Biden administration antagonism of Russia and China and the war propaganda apparatus.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us