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

Poem For Zigi
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
05 Jul 2017
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

This week's offering from BAR's poet in residence was also published this week at Dissident Voice.

 

Poem For Zigi

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

“…the greatest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return…”
‘Nature Boy’ by Eden Ahbez

Jet black gondola
2017-07-05 11:54:34 -0400glides across the resting lake
to Bata drumming dock,
African ritual;
Double rainbow of
Family and friends,
Connect like braided bread,
Waiting to share coconut,
white chocolate, lemon zest treat—
Our seven hour chat
“covering everything
from Ellington to
Engels…” earned Us…

Steamed tears stream on
Bent notes of
“The Nearness of You”
Blue glass explodes beneath
my white shoe;
Rich in Bandmates,

“…the greatest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return…”
‘Nature Boy’ by Eden Ahbez

Jet black gondola
glides across the resting lake
to Bata drumming dock,
African ritual;
Double rainbow of
Family and friends,
Connect like braided bread,
Waiting to share coconut,
white chocolate, lemon zest treat—
Our seven hour chat
“covering everything
from Ellington to
Engels…” earned Us…

Steamed tears stream on
Bent notes of
“The Nearness of You”
Blue glass explodes beneath
my white shoe;
Rich in Bandmates,
Best Man Son, Daughter,
Sistars; Ancestors bear
bouquets emblazoned,
“Mazel Tov!”
and crowd gold chuppah—
more beautiful than perfect

Reaching into Van Gogh
skies—plucking the
left-handed, curly-topped
Angel I’d asked for,
For a trek across
the heavens; After
decades daydreaming,
decades longing
for my Soulmate—a
Brother caught a break—
Flourishing in her
Galaxy of Love

’Twas Fathers Day too—
Papi growled, per usual,
“Take care of each other…”
Champagne whispering—
“Don’t fuck it up,”
Shooing us off to Tour Eiffel…

Best Man Son, Daughter,
Sistars; Ancestors bear
bouquets emblazoned,
“Mazel Tov!”
and crowd gold chuppah—
more beautiful than perfect

Reaching into Van Gogh
skies—plucking the
left-handed, curly-topped
Angel I’d asked for,
For a trek across
the heavens; After
decades daydreaming,
decades longing
for my Soulmate—a
Brother caught a break—
Flourishing in her
Galaxy of Love

’Twas Fathers Day too—
Papi growled, per usual,
“Take care of each other…”
Champagne whispering—
“Don’t fuck it up,”
Shooing us off to Tour Eiffel…

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


More Stories


  • Safe-States Strategy from Hell: Greens Respond to Progressive Left Dems
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Safe-States Strategy from Hell: Greens Respond to Progressive Left Dems
    29 Jan 2020
    Some Greens may fall for the “anybody blue will do” appeal, but most will not.
  • They came 4 Moms 4 Housing
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    They came 4 Moms 4 Housing
    29 Jan 2020
    Storming “ThTown’s” morning dew like badged vermin Creeping from bent mist morning light, just before five Barking cold commands in Pig Latin—or German?
  • Embassy Protectors: An Epic Act of Resistance & Trial of Our Times
    Lauren Smith
    Embassy Protectors: An Epic Act of Resistance & Trial of Our Times
    29 Jan 2020
    Their true crime is their brilliant defense of international law, and Venezuela’s sovereign right to self-determination against Yankee imperialism.
  • Cops and Spies Chase Blacks and Leftists While Violent Whites Grow Bolder
    Alice Speri 
    Cops and Spies Chase Blacks and Leftists While Violent Whites Grow Bolder
    29 Jan 2020
    The cops can’t find white terrorists in plain sight, but they have turned technology to the task of criminalizing Black and Left dissent.
  • Letters from Our Readers 
    Jahan Chowdhry, BAR Comments Editor
    Letters from Our Readers 
    29 Jan 2020
    This week readers discuss Democratic Party racism and the abuse of Martin Luther King’s legacy.  We share your letters for “
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us