By BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
In two works of poetry this week, Turner offers cogent observations on two phenomena, one that pretty much works as intended, and another enterprise that despite the wishes of many consistently and predictably goes awry.
it worksâŚ
by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
spittle trickling from
the side of his mouth,
eyes rolling round like
pinballsâŚin his sweat-
beaded headâŚ
they finally found
the vein they repeatedly
punctured his pin cushion,
high fructose-fattened flesh
searching for.
writhing,
moaning, jerking,
lurching, convulsingâ
primitively strapped
to their updated,
horizontal, death device
dancing an obscene,
grotesque
Arkansas Shuffle:
assembly line murder
2 persons per dayâ
1lâin half a week
Why such rush?
They must die before
the chemicals expire.
Who's Moving Who
by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
High on the hog, mule-
heads and handlers meet
in a Manhattan hotelâ
Operatives, confidential informants,
Mouthpieces for fruit companies
and death squads hold courtâ
Harnessing left motion
sliding
down
the
Hill
Feeling the Bern
Stop! In the name of love
Before you break my heart
Think it overâŚ
The muleâs a stubborn
kinda fellaâass
with big ears that
Hear your every word,
while hiding a mind
of his own
Many men and women
moved the mule
Leftâ
years later, finding
They, themselves, moved
Rightâ
running in placeâŚ
mired in mule dungâ
Whoâs moving who?
Raymond Nat Turner Š 2017 All Rights Reserved
Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performance artist. Find much more of his work at
The first in a three-part series analyzing African politics in 2022.
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Thank you for your support in 2022. Black Agenda Report Will Return on January 4, 2023.
