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


  • Ali Abunimah
    Israel’s ā€œoppositionā€ offers genocide with better PR
    04 Nov 2026
    Israel's election produced no real alternative for Palestinians, because every Zionist party from Eisenkot's Yashar to Golan's Democrats shares the same commitment to apartheid, occupation, and…
  • Abayomi Azikiwe
    Ethiopia Retakes Rebel Stronghold in Tigray While Seeking to Stabilize Security Situation
    04 Nov 2026
    Armed opposition groups have failed to make gains as the capital, Addis Ababa, remains firmly under government control.
  • Orinoco Tribune
    Why Several Latin American Countries Abstained at UN Vote on US Blockade Against Cuba
    04 Nov 2026
    The collapse in support for the UN resolution against the U.S. blockade of Cuba reflects Washington's aggressive diplomatic pressure and blackmail on Latin American governments rather than any…
  • Gary Wilson
    Ebola workers strike in Congo as the United States goes after the mines
    04 Nov 2026
    Washington signed agreements for Congo's copper and cobalt while Ebola spread across 67 health zones and medical workers went unpaid for their hazardous labor.
  • Brad Reed
    ā€˜Oligarchy Is on the Ballot’: Reports Uncover Unprecedented Sums Ultrarich Spent to Buy 2026 Midterms
    04 Nov 2026
    ā€œIn a democracy, it’s supposed to be one person, one vote, and the more one person can influence, the less egalitarian our system becomes,ā€ said one expert.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us