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
  • omnibus

Flattening the curve on Capitalism?
BAR Poet-in-Residence Raymond Nat Turner
01 Apr 2020
🖨️ Print Article
Flattening the curve on Capitalism?
Flattening the curve on Capitalism?

CEO from Boeing to CEO from Wells Fargo, 
heard by the flies on walls at Mar-a-Lago:
“It’s their health or our economy— we get to choose…”
“Yes, like ’08— Heads we win—and tails they loose?”
“Gentlemen, toast to health risk over economic risk—
and let’s be like Mike, with cures like stop and frisk…”

“Speaking candidly, Warren, billionaire to billionaire— 
so what if we lose a few million lives— we don’t care…” 
“Oh, sure some will get sick—and some might even die—
Jeff, they’ll be richly rewarded… in the bye and bye!”
“Our bible’s our shareholders’ and company’s charter—
so, Don, keeping the economy closed is a nonstarter…” 

Raytheon CEO whispering to the CEO of Goldman Sachs:
“There’s fools out there who think we’ve got their backs…”
“I say, ‘Let’s keep golfing and drinking Scotch on the rocks—
keeping our eyes on the market and dumping our stocks…”
“They’re always willing to risk their own lives and health—
‘Patriots,’ sacrificing their lives defending of our wealth…”
“We watch our portfolios, and they defend the homeland—
oh, it’s a class thing—but… they wouldn’t understand…”

“We’ll market it as ‘The Easter Sunday Resurrection—‘
FOX-box it with more ‘regime change’ misdirection…”
“Christ, churches will be like Petri dishes of infection—
but we can’t let a bearish market wreck Don’s $election…”

“Don, tell those with the lowest risk to return to work first—
the ‘weakened immune system’ ones will come out worst…”
“What the hell! To a bullish market starting Easter Sunday—
A red, white and blue, foam finger, ‘U-S-A, We’re # 1’ day…”
“Let’s drink to that Bill, Warren, Jeff, Mike—bottoms up—Olé— 
Gentlemen, bailout’s here again—TRILLIONS are on their way!!”
© 2020. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Prelude to a Test

Oh, a rich rapist was tested today—but not me?
Yes, he’s a billionaire, VIP— thus testee…

A basketball team was tested today—but not me?
Yes, they’re superstars and must play germ-free…

A rich actor was treated today—but not me?
Yes, we must keep his name up on the marquee… 

Didn’t a Texas politician die today for The Economy?
Guess that means he’s a much better man than me—
Or, one less Nazi babbling for the bourgeoisie?
Or, time to make noise demanding tests be FREE!!

© 2020. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

COMMENTS?

Please join the conversation on Black Agenda Report's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/blackagendareport

Or, you can comment by emailing us at comments@blackagendareport.com

poetry

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


Related Stories

Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: Poem for Walter Rodney, Edward Kamau Brathwaite, 1981  
11 June 2025
“any where or world where there is love there is the sky and its blue free
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
A few lines for the Poet Ojenke...
21 May 2025
RIP: Rise In Poetics to Ra
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: Reflections after the June 12th March of Disarmament, Sonia Sanchez, 1982
18 December 2024
“I have come to you tonite not just for the stoppage
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Love My Black Job
11 September 2024
Love my Black Job— Black Student Union Job! Hired at L.A. City College As “The Peoples Poet!”
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: Enemy of the Sun, Samih al-Qasim, 1970
29 May 2024
Read against the terrible incineration of Rafah today, this poem of resistance and refusal, by Pa
Image of Refaat Alareer sitting in a crowd of graduates
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: If I Must Die, Refaat Alareer, 2023
13 December 2023
Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, a martyr of zionist state genocidal violence, has left us with a tale of resistance and hope.
Protest for Palestine at the White House
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Trigger Warning
22 November 2023
Trigger Warning Palestine’s the Answer— What was the Question?
Another June 1
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Another June 1
07 June 2023
                                       
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
16 February 2022
In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
Our ‘democracy’
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Our ‘democracy’
23 July 2021
Shangri-La—untaxed, socially-distanced champagne- caviar, Cayman Island, yacht crowds who

More Stories


  • Abayomi Azikiwe, Black Agenda Report Contributor
    BRICS Declaration Reinforces Call for Multipolarity
    30 Oct 2024
    Kazan summit rejects unilateralism advanced by the West.
  • sputnik
    Jamarl Thomas
    The Life and Times of a "Russian Propagandist"
    30 Oct 2024
    RT and Sputnik weren’t closed for getting it wrong. They were closed for getting it right.
  • Tunde Osazua
    Weaponizing Aid: How USAID and the Global Fragility Act Sustain U.S. Imperialism in Libya
    30 Oct 2024
    The Global Fragility Act is a mechanism through which the US gives itself the authority to utilize soft power in Africa through organizations like USAID. The act places a specific focus on Libya,…
  • Carlos Sirah
    Empire's Overseers: The Two-Party Trap of Blackface Imperialism
    30 Oct 2024
    The U.S. political system is perpetuated through the facade of choice. The false belief that we have the power to decide who our political leaders will be and what policy the government will…
  • Austin Cole
    Demanding More in the Struggle for Collective Liberation – A Conversation with Nicholas Richard Thompson, Part II
    30 Oct 2024
    As part of his research on grassroots economic projects toward Black Liberation, Austin Cole spoke with Nicholas Richard-Thompson about his community organizing, expanding definitions of economic…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us