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
🖨️ 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—

‘Cause I wanna spread the news:

That if it trends this good gettin’ used

Come on, use me ‘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


  • Regionally Integrating the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Regionally Integrating the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin
    06 Sep 2023
    ​​​​​​​BAR Contributing Editor Ann Garrison spoke with Amanuel Biedemariam, author of The History of the USA in Eritrea, about regional integration in the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin among…
  • Little Rock Antioch’s RICO blu klux klan
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Little Rock Antioch’s RICO blu klux klan
    06 Sep 2023
    Little Rock Antioch’s RICO blu klux klan (For Franklin, the Families, and Antioch’s Fightback)
  •  BAR Book Forum: Rima Vesely-Flad’s Book, “Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Rima Vesely-Flad’s Book, “Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition”
    06 Sep 2023
    This week’s featured author is Rima Vesely-Flad.
  • How Joe Biden and The Democratic Party’s Climate Agenda Increases Environmental Racism More Than It Reduces Emissions [A Three Part Series]
    Anthony Karefa Rogers-Wright
    How Joe Biden and The Democratic Party’s Climate Agenda Increases Environmental Racism More Than It Reduces Emissions [A Three Part Series]
    06 Sep 2023
    The environmental benefits of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act are non-existent for Black and other marginalized communities.
  • Libya’s Attempt to Normalize Relations with the Zionist Entity is a Multilayered Treason
    Essam Elkorghli
    Libya’s Attempt to Normalize Relations with the Zionist Entity is a Multilayered Treason
    06 Sep 2023
    There are Arab governments going along with the U.S. push to normalize relations with Israel. But people throughout the region are adamantly opposed to such treachery, as the now suspended Foreign…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us