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


  • Ukraine: The Tip of the Spear for the Imperialist Project
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
    Ukraine: The Tip of the Spear for the Imperialist Project
    16 Feb 2022
    The U.S. manufactured crisis in Ukraine cannot be separated from the drive for full spectrum dominance all over the world.
  • Why We Need A "Mau Mau" in Amerikkka
    Dedan Waicuri and Yusuf Askari wa Watu
    Why We Need A "Mau Mau" in Amerikkka
    16 Feb 2022
    The liberation struggle in colonial Kenya is a guide for mass mobilization today. Members of the Mapinduzi organization explain.
  • African Union Ignores Foundational Values By Upholding Apartheid Israel’s Observer Status
    Pan African Palestine Solidarity Network
    African Union Ignores Foundational Values By Upholding Apartheid Israel’s Observer Status
    16 Feb 2022
    The African Union reversed its decision to suspend Israel's observer status.
  • Along the Belt and Road: Breaking the Cycle of Underdevelopment in Latin America
    Carlos Martinez
    Along the Belt and Road: Breaking the Cycle of Underdevelopment in Latin America
    16 Feb 2022
    Joe Biden says that Latin America is "in our front yard." Nations in the region declare independence by deepening their ties with China.
  • Eric Adams' Black on Black Crime
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Eric Adams' Black on Black Crime
    09 Feb 2022
    The mass incarceration state was built to lock up as many Black people as possible and discussion of even modest reforms is shut down.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us