by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
Ralph Pointer, husband of the recently deceased peoples lawyer and political prisoner Lynne Stewart is an accomplished freedom fighter in his own right. A respected elder, he is still with us, and BAR's poet in residence tells us a little about him.
When I Grow Up…
by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
When I grow up I
wanna be bear hugs
and hundred watt smiles
for family, comrades and friends—
Easy to figure
out: come correct—
Or, not at all
When I grow up I
wanna be like the
keystone state son of
a Fighting Miner,
in major—music theory—
teaching poly-rhythmic
Resistance, asking:
“How do you keep the music playing,
How do you make it last?”
When I grow up I
wanna be like the
Quaker State son of
a Fighting Miner,
in major—allowing
Resistance and the
Organizer in
his DNA to
Lead the way, saying
Names of Political
Prisoners, Prisoners of War…
When I grow up I
wanna be like the
Warrior jousting
windmills in front of
the War House, Picketing
for the Love of his
Life—rain, sleet, or snow—
Or sauna; showing,
Not telling, the rulers,
“Let my Peoples’ Lawyer go!”
Ain’t that lovin’ you, baby?
When I grow up I
wanna be like the cat
not above crashing
in airports, to
Visit his Valentine
shackled to the 17th century,
deep in the heart of
a Texas torture chamber
When I grow up I
wanna be a spirit
singing,“Lonely teardrops,
My pillow’s never dry…
Lonely teardrops, come
Ho-oh-oh-oh-Om…”
When I grow up I
wanna be like the knight,
who in his eye’s glint,
Her name’s writ in flames…
Poet’s note: This is inspired by the life of Ralph Poynter…
Raymond Nat Turner © 2017 All Rights Reserved
Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performance artist. Find much more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.
Assata Shakur wrote the introduction and this poem for the 1990 book Hauling Up the Morning: writings & art by political prisoners and prisoners of war in the U.S.
Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez Mina is strengthening diplomatic relations with African countries and their connections with Colombia's African descended communities.
They called Assata Shakur a fugitive; we claim her as a compass. Her work and her words will continue to chart the path toward our liberation.
The empire has a new plan for Haiti, a return to military occupation dressed up as humanitarianism. Like past occupations, it will only increase the suffering of Haiti's people.
While Gaza burns, a collaborationist class is being handed the keys to a prison and calling it a state, all in service to western imperialism.
