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

For Fancy Miss Nancy
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
19 Dec 2018
🖨️ Print Article
Nancy Sue Wilson 1937-2018
Nancy Sue Wilson 1937-2018

Guess who I saw
today, black and white photo,
Marching, Montgomery from
Selma, ‘65?

Guess who I saw
at my high school swingin’ the
Trio; urging us to stay in school?

Guess who I,
was privileged to sequence
a later CD for, late one night?

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
put the purr in whisper, with a sultry
Sound that could make subpoenas seem sensuous

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
Appeared, sparkling, at the end of the
golden era—looking as good as she sounded—
Her face should grace
Buckeye State flags emblazoned
“There will never be another you…”

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
Hovered earth— stunning hummingbird,
gorgeous humanitarian, giving the greatest
performance of her life, moments I loitered—
not seizing the time and asking, “When did
You leave heaven?”
Though, I think it was maybe ’37? I know she’s

Free Again…

© 2018. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performing artist. You can find much more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.

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


More Stories


  • Five Myths of American Exceptionalism Killing the Left Part 1.
    Danny Haiphong , BAR contributor
    Five Myths of American Exceptionalism Killing the Left Part 1.
    17 Jul 2019
    Adherence to American exceptionalism kills the left and then takes it to the Democratic Party-run graveyard for burial.
  • Gang of Four
    Raymond Nat Turner , BAR poet-in-residence
    Gang of Four
    17 Jul 2019
    I say, YAY,  I say, MORE,  I say, GO, Gang of Four!
  • There’s No Such Thing as a “Progressive Prosecutor” in a System Designed to Criminalize Blackness
    Gyasi Lake
    There’s No Such Thing as a “Progressive Prosecutor” in a System Designed to Criminalize Blackness
    17 Jul 2019
    Incremental changes are treated as if they are touchdowns when they are just moving the chains.
  • Why Are So Many Black Families Losing Their Land?
    Lizzie Presser
    Why Are So Many Black Families Losing Their Land?
    17 Jul 2019
    The Reels brothers spent eight years in jail for refusing to leave their plot of land in North Carolina.
  • Detroit Targeted for Massive Facial Surveillance
    Shea Howell
    Detroit Targeted for Massive Facial Surveillance
    17 Jul 2019
    A Black elected police commissioner was manhandled at a public meeting for protesting a draconian facial recognition scheme.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us