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Division’s still 1% survival math
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
03 May 2023
Division’s still 1% survival math

                                                                                                                        Division’s still 1% survival math

                                                                                                                         “In many ways a lot has changed

                                                                                                                  and, in many ways, a lot has not changed.”

                                                                                                                                     —Harry Belafonte

In Cancer Alleys where fossil fuel
crosses burn;
In lily-white enclaves with Indigenous
names for drunken anti-Black spaces
Division’s still 1% survival math.
Still churning waves in Wayback Machines
where Fox-box Bubbas born blind “look away”
to cotton field copaganda: “Where woke goes to die”

Division’s still 1% survival math—
Albatross around desperate necks
mouthing, “I can’t breathe!” with
Weight of states’ rights knees/bottom
dragging anchors—exercising out-sized
Control on our spiraling forward motion!
Division’s still 1% survival math
on bloody battlefields commemorated with two
story traitors’ statues—revered war criminals—
reveling in civil war crimes/crimes against humanity

Division’s still 1% survival math
Fiery hell where cruel governors cut grand
dragon teeth, crafting plantation education at
21st century whipping posts. Still crucibles where
sheriffs train as exalted cyclops—klansmen with
pensions, paid vacations, overtime, six-figure
salaries And rolls of yellow tape for christening hate
crimes.

Division’s still 1% survival math
Where even Harry Potter’s an imperial wizard
with Dixie magic right to work for low-wage laws—
Cesspool where serpents slither ‘round super
markets, sanctuaries, schools fondling sticks with
triggers and
wearing red dunce caps proclaiming, “Make Amerikkka
Grate!” …Again…

© 2023. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is a NYC poet; BAR's Poet-in-Residence; and founder/co-leader of the jazz-poetry ensemble UpSurge!NYC. You can Vote for his work at: GoFundMe and PayPal.

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