by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
Come as you are, and be ready to build the world we all deserve, invites our poet, to the united front against facism. Wherever you come from, wherever you were this morning or last week, your hand your mind your heart and energies are welcomed in this collaborative effort...
WELCOME (To The United Front Against Fascism)
by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome if you come from the ‘30s
Welcome if you come from the ‘60s
Welcome if you come from the ‘90s
Welcome if you come from yesterday
Welcome if you come from today—tomorrow…
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome if you come from Coveralls
Welcome if you come from Apron
Welcome if you come from Costume
Welcome if you come from Scrubs
Welcome if you come Womb wear
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome if you come from the Res
Welcome if you come from the Barrio
Welcome if you come from the ‘Hood
Welcome if you come from the ‘Burb
Welcome if you come from Solitary
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome if you come from Kingdom Hall
Welcome if you come from Mosque
Welcome if you come from Synagogue
Welcome if you come from Storefront
Welcome if you come from Ashram
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome if you come from the Bible
Welcome if you come from the Quran
Welcome if you come from the Talmud
Welcome if you come from the Constitution
Welcome if you come from the Communist Manifesto
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome if you come from Front-lines
Welcome if you come from Rearguard
Welcome if you come from Ground Zeros
Welcome if you come from Welfare Lines
Welcome if you come from Shelters
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome if you’ve come by canoe, slave ship,
raft, riverboat, cruise, sub, barge, tug—
We’re all in one boat, now—Not
Dogs sniffing each others’ baggage—
Two carryons each—
One’s bullshit: best left curbside…
Poet’s Note: The Great John Coltrane’s composition “Welcome” Inspired this…
Raymond Nat Turner © 2017 All Rights Reserved
Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performing artist. Find much more of his work at
http://uspsurgejazz.com
When Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, the Black World rallied in support and solidarity.
