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

Flattening the curve on Capitalism?
BAR Poet-in-Residence Raymond Nat Turner
01 Apr 2020
🖨️ Print Article
Flattening the curve on Capitalism?
Flattening the curve on Capitalism?

CEO from Boeing to CEO from Wells Fargo, 
heard by the flies on walls at Mar-a-Lago:
“It’s their health or our economy— we get to choose…”
“Yes, like ’08— Heads we win—and tails they loose?”
“Gentlemen, toast to health risk over economic risk—
and let’s be like Mike, with cures like stop and frisk…”

“Speaking candidly, Warren, billionaire to billionaire— 
so what if we lose a few million lives— we don’t care…” 
“Oh, sure some will get sick—and some might even die—
Jeff, they’ll be richly rewarded… in the bye and bye!”
“Our bible’s our shareholders’ and company’s charter—
so, Don, keeping the economy closed is a nonstarter…” 

Raytheon CEO whispering to the CEO of Goldman Sachs:
“There’s fools out there who think we’ve got their backs…”
“I say, ‘Let’s keep golfing and drinking Scotch on the rocks—
keeping our eyes on the market and dumping our stocks…”
“They’re always willing to risk their own lives and health—
‘Patriots,’ sacrificing their lives defending of our wealth…”
“We watch our portfolios, and they defend the homeland—
oh, it’s a class thing—but… they wouldn’t understand…”

“We’ll market it as ‘The Easter Sunday Resurrection—‘
FOX-box it with more ‘regime change’ misdirection…”
“Christ, churches will be like Petri dishes of infection—
but we can’t let a bearish market wreck Don’s $election…”

“Don, tell those with the lowest risk to return to work first—
the ‘weakened immune system’ ones will come out worst…”
“What the hell! To a bullish market starting Easter Sunday—
A red, white and blue, foam finger, ‘U-S-A, We’re # 1’ day…”
“Let’s drink to that Bill, Warren, Jeff, Mike—bottoms up—Olé— 
Gentlemen, bailout’s here again—TRILLIONS are on their way!!”
© 2020. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Prelude to a Test

Oh, a rich rapist was tested today—but not me?
Yes, he’s a billionaire, VIP— thus testee…

A basketball team was tested today—but not me?
Yes, they’re superstars and must play germ-free…

A rich actor was treated today—but not me?
Yes, we must keep his name up on the marquee… 

Didn’t a Texas politician die today for The Economy?
Guess that means he’s a much better man than me—
Or, one less Nazi babbling for the bourgeoisie?
Or, time to make noise demanding tests be FREE!!

© 2020. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

COMMENTS?

Please join the conversation on Black Agenda Report's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/blackagendareport

Or, you can comment by emailing us at comments@blackagendareport.com

poetry

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


Related Stories

Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: Poem for Walter Rodney, Edward Kamau Brathwaite, 1981  
11 June 2025
“any where or world where there is love there is the sky and its blue free
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
A few lines for the Poet Ojenke...
21 May 2025
RIP: Rise In Poetics to Ra
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: Reflections after the June 12th March of Disarmament, Sonia Sanchez, 1982
18 December 2024
“I have come to you tonite not just for the stoppage
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Love My Black Job
11 September 2024
Love my Black Job— Black Student Union Job! Hired at L.A. City College As “The Peoples Poet!”
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: Enemy of the Sun, Samih al-Qasim, 1970
29 May 2024
Read against the terrible incineration of Rafah today, this poem of resistance and refusal, by Pa
Image of Refaat Alareer sitting in a crowd of graduates
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
POEM: If I Must Die, Refaat Alareer, 2023
13 December 2023
Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, a martyr of zionist state genocidal violence, has left us with a tale of resistance and hope.
Protest for Palestine at the White House
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Trigger Warning
22 November 2023
Trigger Warning Palestine’s the Answer— What was the Question?
Another June 1
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Another June 1
07 June 2023
                                       
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
16 February 2022
In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
Our ‘democracy’
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Our ‘democracy’
23 July 2021
Shangri-La—untaxed, socially-distanced champagne- caviar, Cayman Island, yacht crowds who

More Stories


  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Making America Whiter Again: White Supremacy in Action
    27 May 2026
    There is nothing mysterious about Trump’s effort to curb legal immigration. White supremacy is the explanation.
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    SPEECH: Statement at the 19th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, 1964
    27 May 2026
    “Cuba ... a free and sovereign state with no chains binding it to anyone...with no proconsuls directing its policy, can speak with its head held high.”
  • Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor , Jamal Abdulahi
    Trump is Not Defeated in Minnesota
    27 May 2026
    Minnesota pushed back against ICE until its visible presence seemed cut in half, but Trump does not forgive or forget, and it’s a time to be organized.
  • Anthony Karefa Rogers-Wright
    Big D Dysfunction: Why The Democrat Party’s Latest Comedy of Errors is a Tragedy of Strategy 
    27 May 2026
    The party that installed its presidential candidate without a primary vote now blames its 2024 loss on everything except its own contempt for its base and allegiance to neo-liberal policies.
  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    SONNY
    27 May 2026
    "SONNY" is the latest from BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us