First 100 Daze: A ‘new’ dance craze

Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence

27 Jan 2021

Everybody’s wild ‘bout this ‘new’ dance craze—
this lewd, crude dance called “The 1st 100 Daze…”
Here come Ol’ Blak Schmo and Ladee Blu—
listen up—they’re gonna teach it to you:

First you do the Fat Cat, War Hawk/Lame Duck—
line dancing, passing war-profiteers Megabuck!
Then kickback ’til you find common ground—
keep shuffling Wall Street’s flesh by the pound…
Then you jump to the right and ‘Build Back Better—‘
…’less you renter-worker-student—or debtor…

Add a lil soft shoe like all great vaudevillians
then circle ‘round and ‘round talkin’ billions—
For solving problems demanding trillions
while buying bombs for killing civilians…
Then you jump to the right and ‘Build Back Better—‘
…’less you renter-worker-student—or debtor…

Grab colored quislings shuffling for austerity—
bowin’ and scrapin’—fo’ Dem bones ob charity
‘Round and ‘round, up and down—Black and Brown mascots—
same toxic water in the same rusty pots!
Circle ‘round and ‘round then ‘Build Back Better—‘
…’less you renter-worker-student—or debtor…

Now, a quick crossover step to Slow-Pitch Mitch—
curtsy to each senator that you enrich…
Spin COVID relief and let ‘em nip and tuck—
smile, it’s Chancy Nancy and Two-Buck Chuck
Circle ‘round and ‘round then ‘Build Back Better—‘
…’less you renter-worker-student—or debtor…

Now whinny, “Don’t you dare touch billionaire wealth—
or war-profiteers—for universal health!”
Then bray, “Healthcare For All’s a Dem dead letter…
tax breaks to the rich is what Builds Back Better…”
Double over, donkeys, and poke out your rump—
hee-haw, “Suckas be glad de Dems ain’t Trump!!!!”

BAR’s poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner is an accomplished performing artist. You can find much more of his work at https://www.youtube.com/user/zigilow

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