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

Buzzed In By Lewis
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
01 Feb 2018
🖨️ Print Article

5 in the morning, ‘The Lewis Sawyer Experience’
early morning Boys Club in Papa Sawyer’s Cave:
My lick for Lewis, “Lewis Sawyer, is my lawyer—”
his classic chuckle-comeback, “Well, you’re in bad shape then!”
Poets and last words, “Well, David McBurney is my attorney…”
But Lewis was a bullhorn, shouting names of our Political Prisoners,
Prisoners Of War, languishing forgotten in gulags across imprisoned
nation. He put 59,000 watts beneath their wings,without fanfare—
While reminding us: we’re just in Minimum Security…

Being buzzed in to the Mother Ship by Lewis
felt safe, welcome—presence appreciated—in
Good hands, a trillion times more reliable than Allstate
Lewis was the first face I’d see at the station—
unerring source for five-star information

Warmth was his uniform; his smile his badge,
reflecting respect back like a mirror from the
Mountaintop: all the authority a badass Angel,
sweet scientist, who could handle ‘situations…’
Required; I emerged from ‘Lewis Sawyer Experiences’
with double shot expresso optimism

A modest, minimalist, Monk life-stylist—
Count Basie of Kindness—
Not a whole lot of notes there
but his voicings sung and swung;
Duke Ellington of Passion:
Things he loved, he loved madly—
speaking of love—Lewis was LOVE
Not a mushy, gushy, sentimental bubblegum LOVE
But, an I believe in you, when no one else believes LOVE
I honor your light, anything I can do to amplify it LOVE
As you stand on stage, I’ll sit in the audience LOVE
Anything you need early in the morning LOVE
Release your worry beads, I got your back LOVE
Harness your hardships, “too big to fail” LOVE

Let’s suppose that place
preachers speak of Sundays
Exists; suppose I make the cut—
I bet Lewis will be there buzzing me in… Lewis Sawyer:
Presente!

poetry

More Stories


  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Democrats and Trump Are in Sync on Iran
    24 Jun 2026
    The bipartisan consensus for regime change against Iran hit the wall of Iranian resistance. But Trump is forced into talks while democrats attack him from the right and expose themselves as partners…
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    LECTURE: How U.S. Imperialism Ruled Cuba, Armando G. Entralgo, 1965
    24 Jun 2026
    “The U.S.A. decided to annex Cuba economically and Cuba made history by becoming the first country in the world to be a victim of neocolonialism.”
  • Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Could Wemby Become the Conscience of the NBA?
    24 Jun 2026
    NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama grapples with the times we’re living in, even as his career takes off.
  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    War House hosted cage-fighting for 250th what’s next?
    24 Jun 2026
    "War House hosted cage-fighting for 250th what’s next?" is the latest form BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Anthony Karefa Rogers-Wright
    New York City Voters Just Proved that AIPAC is an Electoral Albatross, Will the Democrat Party Establishment Get the Message?
    24 Jun 2026
    The Democrat establishment poured millions into protecting its incumbents in New York City, but voters chose progressive anti-genocide challengers. That party will fight against the reality that…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us