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
  • omnibus

The Town Crier’s Big Tooth Fund (For Drs. Rosenthal, Sapir and Ferdowsi)
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
23 Jun 2021
The Town Crier’s Big Tooth Fund (For Drs. Rosenthal, Sapir and Ferdowsi)
The Town Crier’s Big Tooth Fund (For Drs. Rosenthal, Sapir and Ferdowsi)

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs…” —Karl Marx

Reclined in my dentist’s chair, daydreaming in
Numbers: #s 13, 15, 18, 19— “5 on # 13; 7 on # 15;
5 on # 18; 7 on # 19—“ Problematic, impacted,
subtracted, divided—fractured, cracked numbers…
Unequal distal-lingual locations of class struggle;
where whirring drills and best shots stand down
Awaiting orders of statesmen long dead. I realize
glory days of my smile may be numbered, since
Sticker shock causes death under capitalism…

Reclined in my dentist’s chair, flashbacks from
warehouse worker-janitor-library worker life
whizz by… Surviving on years of poetry wages;
Years of “uninsured” low wealth; Years of popcorn 
cracks and fractures in dimly lit theaters. Years of 
cruisin’ Harlem’s Sugar Hill for what a friend’s 
Mom calls: “Coffee AND…” Coffee AND coffee cake;
Coffee AND cake; Coffee AND cookies, donuts—Coffee 
AND brownies from bodegas open 24/7 when breaking 
from Big Apple writing wars and crowned Cultural Worker

Reclined in my dentist’s chair, titanium thoughts 
sniping bullshit slogans like: “Build back better!”
Rewinding fierce firefights for universal health-
care for all: Like W and Schmuck Cheney before—
Boss Tweet and Schmo Biden after—
The Drone Ranger smothered it with
‘Surges,’ ‘signature strikes’ and boots on the ground

Reclined in my dentist’s chair, chuckling, thinking of
how I’d look—eyes bugged out—cowering, trembling 
in the corner, babbling: “Teeth don’t fail me now…”  
I remind myself, “It’s not personal, it’s business…” And
Relapse into a deep state of reasonableness, demanding the 
Impossible: Dental Care sleazy senators filibustering voting
rights receive…Dental Care corrupt congressmen with kick-
back-stuffed jackets get…Dental Care killer cops bending badges
Celebrating kills get…

© 2021. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

https://gofund.me/ef0f14a1

Raymond Nat Turner is an accomplished poet and performing artist, and an official of the National Writers Union. Find more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com

COMMENTS?

Please join the conversation on Black Agenda Report's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/blackagendareport

Or, you can comment by emailing us at [email protected]

poetry

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


Related Stories

Another June 1
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Another June 1
07 June 2023
                                                                                              Another June 1  
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
16 February 2022
In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
Our ‘democracy’
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Our ‘democracy’
23 July 2021
Shangri-La—untaxed, socially-distanced champagne- caviar, Cayman Island, yacht crowds who
Pigment of your Imagination: Black magic mascots, props and sops?
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Pigment of your Imagination: Black magic mascots, props and sops?
15 July 2021
Could the pigment of your imagination cause Black magic mascots, props, sops— Black faces in high places—
A known known…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
A known known…
08 July 2021
“…there are known knowns. There are things we know that we know. There are known
Twerkers of the World you might…(Or when they go low we get high?)
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Twerkers of the World you might…(Or when they go low we get high?)
01 July 2021
“History repeats itself,  first as tragedy, second as farce.” —Karl Marx
The Town Crier’s List of Who’s Who in the capitalist state machine
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
The Town Crier’s List of Who’s Who in the capitalist state machine
16 June 2021
“Ain’t no power like the power of the people— ‘cause the power of the people don’t stop!” bouncing 
Ladee Blu: Another Monroe Doctrine delivery system 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Ladee Blu: Another Monroe Doctrine delivery system 
09 June 2021
Raytheon’s craven raven Co-signing for mass murder: “Mowing the grass…” Now… Ladee Blu on a fool’s errand dis-
MOVE Tulsa to Gaza…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
MOVE Tulsa to Gaza…
02 June 2021
The Mass Shooting Of The Day— this time was in San Jose… Do you know the way to San Jose?
Raymond Nat Turner , BAR poet-in-residence
Preachin’ to the Choir (for Joe, Linda, Tim…)
26 May 2021
2020’s hindsight—frost in the rearview mirror. Miles Ahead… I’m Sheltered in Solidarity with National Poetry Month and

More Stories


  • Black Agenda Radio September 22, 2023
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio September 22, 2023
    22 Sep 2023
    U.S. hostility towards China, the Beloved Community and the effort to end violence, and partisan gerrymandering and its impact on voting rights.
  • U.S. Hostility to China Strengthens Multipolarity
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    U.S. Hostility to China Strengthens Multipolarity
    22 Sep 2023
    Danny Haiphong is a long time Black Agenda Report contributing editor. He is now the host of his own Youtube channel.
  • Ending Violence with the Beloved Community in Chicago
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Ending Violence with the Beloved Community in Chicago
    22 Sep 2023
    Orion Meadows is a non-violence trainer with Institute for Nonviolence Chicago.
  • Partisan Gerrymandering and Voting Rights
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Partisan Gerrymandering and Voting Rights
    22 Sep 2023
    Michael Li is Senior Counsel in the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
  • Why Barack Obama Can't Shut Up
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Why Barack Obama Can't Shut Up
    20 Sep 2023
    Barack Obama devastated millions of people all over the world and speaks of his actions as if they were committed by someone else. It is a masterful performance by a man committed to deception.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us