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


  • Biden, the Emcee at the Billionaires’ Ball
    Glen Ford, BAR Executive Editor
    Biden, the Emcee at the Billionaires’ Ball
    26 Nov 2020
    The Lords of Capital use periods of crisis to devour the less-rich and reshape the political economy to their further advantage, so that the Joe Bidens of the world jump higher and come quicker whe
  • Freedom Rider: Censorship in the Biden Era
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR senior columnist
    Freedom Rider: Censorship in the Biden Era
    25 Nov 2020
    The corporate media have joined the incoming administration in deciding what we can and cannot see and hear.
  • “America” Doesn’t Need Healing. It Needs Socialism
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    “America” Doesn’t Need Healing. It Needs Socialism
    25 Nov 2020
    Biden’s promise to return the United States to “normalcy” comforts corporate executives in the “gig economy,” Wall Street, and the military industrial complex.
  • Uganda’s Youth Majority Brave Police Blockades and Bullets to Rally Behind Bobi Wine
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Uganda’s Youth Majority Brave Police Blockades and Bullets to Rally Behind Bobi Wine
    25 Nov 2020
    US elites may see the writing on the wall in Uganda, where the youth majority population are braving police blockades and bullets to rally behind Bobi Wine.
  •  Black Agenda Radio for Week of November 23, 2020
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio for Week of November 23, 2020
    25 Nov 2020
    Reject “Thanks-Taking,” Join in National Day of Mourning
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us