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


  • Somalia, from the Cold War to the War on Terror
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Somalia, from the Cold War to the War on Terror
    25 Aug 2021
    Cold War and War on Terror destabilize Somalia and cause great suffering for its people.
  • Document: Notes of a Prison Collective: Marion Political Collective, 1976
    Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    Document: Notes of a Prison Collective: Marion Political Collective, 1976
    25 Aug 2021
    In 1976, prisoners in the United States Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois wrote a collective document explaining the status of the prisoner within the prison—and the role of the prison
  • BAR Book Forum: An Yountae and Eleanor Craig’s “Beyond Man”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: An Yountae and Eleanor Craig’s “Beyond Man”
    25 Aug 2021
    "Beyond Man" is an analysis of race, religion, and activism.
  • BAR Book Forum: Sharon Lynette Jones’ “Conversations with Angela Davis” 
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Sharon Lynette Jones’ “Conversations with Angela Davis” 
    25 Aug 2021
    BAR Book Forum delves into Conversations with Angela Davis.
  • Summer of Soul/Summer of Struggle…
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Summer of Soul/Summer of Struggle…
    25 Aug 2021
    BAR's poet in residence pays tribute to fallen Black Panther Party comrades. Chalk silhouettes, bullet-violated bodies of Bunchy and John—UCLA, cold Campbell Hall
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us