"They have got to pick up the work ..."
—Ralph Poynter
I.
When I finished poet-ing St. Peters for Lynne;
When I finished poet-ing Riverside for Glen
I received Ralph hugs. And … lived to marvel them …
Ever receive a Ralph hug?
Ever receive a Ralph hug and recalibrate solidarity?
Ever receive a Ralph hug and know its not business—
It’s personal? Ever receive a Ralph hug and gloat over
Protected species status?
Ever receive a Ralph hug and know the real meaning of
Human shield?
II.
It’s Christmas Day and The Ancestors say, “Ray … we need
You to preach a poem punctuated with emeralds, rubies, and
diamonds— No Ralph hug … this time …
We need you ’tryin and Tranein—‘ Town Cryin red Blues!"
III.
The Ancestors said, “Some of us celebrated Big Apple
Christmases past. Reconnected with cousins.
Listened in awe to aunts and uncles. Gave and received
Gifts with long tons of love. This Christmas we want the best!”
The Ancestors said, "We met more than
4 corners. Conferred, discussed, debated—
Decided: 6 decades serving The People’s worthy of
Promotion! Worthy of AIT: Ancestor In Training …”
The Ancestors said, "Some of you will surely scream—
as if we’ve snatched a battalion!
No. We’re gifting golden opportunities: Walk …unbent in
His moccasins! Run … run … Long distances in his boots!”
The Ancestors said, “Your Keystone State Son of a Steel-
worker lives! Lives toiling in fertile fields of your minds.
Lives sowing DNA-deep resistance— coursing thru your
hearts’ farms …”
The Ancestors said, “The steel's hard from knowing white
Heat and hammer … The Steelworker's Son leaves looped,
His triple platinum hit. 3 word song of love. Anti-capitalist
chant. Meditation for movements: ‘Keep It Going!’”
The Ancestors said, “He said, keep bouncing out of bed.
Keep striking blows at monsters burying babies beneath
busted brick/twisted rebar rubble. Monsters gunning down
doctors; bombing hospitals while howling ‘operations!’”
The Ancestors said, “He said, keep focusing floodlights
on fascists deploying dyslexic snipers reading PRESS
as TARGET! And fascists who can’t wait to make America
Grate again … basking in brutal glory of the ‘50s—1850s!”
IV.
The Ancestors said,
“Roll up your sleeve
before you leave
And get Ralph Poynter
Protracted Resistance Booster
Shots— 6 decade-lasting Jabs!”
“Roll up your sleeve
before you leave
And get Ralph Poynter
Postal Worker protection injections—
Neither rain, sleet, or snow stops you!”
“Roll up your sleeve
before you leave
And fill Ralph Poynter
Prescriptions (Possible side effects include
Reliability; rebelliousness—ever readiness
for revolution … ”)
© 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.
"Sitting Shiva in South Florida for Our souls/slivers of democracy …" is the latest from BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
Politicians and the liberal media cite "voter apathy" as the cause of reduced voter turnout, but the reality is that their devotion to corporate interests over those of the people creates a seeming…
Settler colonialism has caused the destruction of indigenous lands around the world and, as a result, the environment in which we all live. The path forward is an global struggle against these forces.
For Africans in the U.S., anger is an important first step in mentally emancipating themselves from empire and declaring war on it.
The peoples of this world will never see true liberation and peace until we are free of the shackles of U.S. and Western colonial domination.
