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

Buzzed In By Lewis
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
01 Feb 2018
🖨️ Print Article

5 in the morning, ‘The Lewis Sawyer Experience’
early morning Boys Club in Papa Sawyer’s Cave:
My lick for Lewis, “Lewis Sawyer, is my lawyer—”
his classic chuckle-comeback, “Well, you’re in bad shape then!”
Poets and last words, “Well, David McBurney is my attorney…”
But Lewis was a bullhorn, shouting names of our Political Prisoners,
Prisoners Of War, languishing forgotten in gulags across imprisoned
nation. He put 59,000 watts beneath their wings,without fanfare—
While reminding us: we’re just in Minimum Security…

Being buzzed in to the Mother Ship by Lewis
felt safe, welcome—presence appreciated—in
Good hands, a trillion times more reliable than Allstate
Lewis was the first face I’d see at the station—
unerring source for five-star information

Warmth was his uniform; his smile his badge,
reflecting respect back like a mirror from the
Mountaintop: all the authority a badass Angel,
sweet scientist, who could handle ‘situations…’
Required; I emerged from ‘Lewis Sawyer Experiences’
with double shot expresso optimism

A modest, minimalist, Monk life-stylist—
Count Basie of Kindness—
Not a whole lot of notes there
but his voicings sung and swung;
Duke Ellington of Passion:
Things he loved, he loved madly—
speaking of love—Lewis was LOVE
Not a mushy, gushy, sentimental bubblegum LOVE
But, an I believe in you, when no one else believes LOVE
I honor your light, anything I can do to amplify it LOVE
As you stand on stage, I’ll sit in the audience LOVE
Anything you need early in the morning LOVE
Release your worry beads, I got your back LOVE
Harness your hardships, “too big to fail” LOVE

Let’s suppose that place
preachers speak of Sundays
Exists; suppose I make the cut—
I bet Lewis will be there buzzing me in… Lewis Sawyer:
Presente!

poetry

More Stories


  • When America No Longer Exports Carnage As A Business Model, Maybe We'll Stop Seeing It In The Streets Here
    Jacqueline Luqman
    When America No Longer Exports Carnage As A Business Model, Maybe We'll Stop Seeing It In The Streets Here
    08 Jun 2022
    The tears, prayers, and thoughts regarding mass shootings are sincerely expressed by most people. But hypocrisy and cynicism loom very large for Joe Biden and congress. They want us to believe…
  • A Recap of My Trip to Cali and Buenaventura, Colombia
    Charisse Burden-Stelly, PhD
    A Recap of My Trip to Cali and Buenaventura, Colombia
    08 Jun 2022
    The author recounts her experiences as a member of an election delegation in Colombia which also made connections with African descended communities.
  • Haiti and the Americas Syllabus
    Haiti/Americas Committee Black Alliance For Peace
    Haiti and the Americas Syllabus
    08 Jun 2022
    The Black Alliance for Peace Haiti-Americas Team Syllabus is a vital source of information and political education with articles, media resources, and statements which support BAP's mission "to…
  • Colombia: World Power of Life or Neo-Fascist Pillar?
    Agustín Laó-Montes
    Colombia: World Power of Life or Neo-Fascist Pillar?
    08 Jun 2022
    The leftist Historical Pact emerged as the favorite of Colombian voters in the recent election. But rightist forces are working to prevent Gustavo Petro and Francia Marquez from winning in the …
  • Hubert Henry Harrison - Tribune of the People
    Sean I. Ahern
    Hubert Henry Harrison - Tribune of the People
    08 Jun 2022
    Hubert Henry Harrison was one of the foremost Black socialist and nationalist thinkers of the early 20th century. He was known as "the father of Harlem radicalism." This is the first of a three-part…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us