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
šŸ–Øļø 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—

ā€˜Cause I wanna spread the news:

That if it trends this good gettin’ used

Come on, use me ā€˜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


  • The Stalinist Trial of Julian Assange
    John Pilger
    The Stalinist Trial of Julian Assange
    09 Sep 2020
    The collusion of powers wants to bury Julian alive in their war on the very principle of freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and democracy.
  • Decades-Old Gang Laws Are Being Used to Target Black Lives Matter Protesters
    Ali Winston
    Decades-Old Gang Laws Are Being Used to Target Black Lives Matter Protesters
    09 Sep 2020
    By using gang laws, authorities can do an end run around First Amendment protections on freedom of association
  • The Role of the Black Bourgeoisie in Coopting Our Movements
    Ahjamu Umi
    The Role of the Black Bourgeoisie in Coopting Our Movements
    09 Sep 2020
    The Black bourgeoisie, including the next generation of them after Obama, will continue to derail us with their empty promises of inclusion.
  • Mexico:Ā First the Poor
    Roger Stoll
    Mexico:Ā First the Poor
    09 Sep 2020
    The country’s new leftist president struggles to honor his people’s "right to stay home" by fighting poverty and expanding access to education.
  • Black Agenda Radio for Week of September 7, 2020
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio for Week of September 7, 2020
    07 Sep 2020
    Black ā€œMaternalsā€ Yoked to the Wheel of Group Survival
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us