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Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"

A poetry jam in space — created across and despite razor wire, prison bars and censored phone lines. It is a gathering of poets to celebrate the work of sister poet Marilyn Buck, who has spent more than 20 years in US prisons for her anti-imperialist politics and actions.In the eyes of the government, Marilyn is an enemy of the state, despised for her role in freeing Black Liberation leader Assata Shakur, hated for her willingness to risk her life and freedom for a world imaginable only to a revolutionary—or a poet.
Yet for the poets who rushed to lend their voices and their words to this collection, Marilyn is someone very different – a woman who lives for transformation. Through her political activism and writing, she creates the possibility of a world of social justice and peace. Through her approach to prison, she transforms the repression and censorship of imprisonment and, in the process, has become a poet.The poet contributors read Marilyn's poems and their own. They include Amiri Baraka, carolyn baxter/Nottiehead Bosco, Dennis Brutus, Aya De Leon, Fanny Howe, Uchechi Kalu, Elana Levy, Genny Lim, devorah major, Sara Menefee, Kiilu Nyasha, Maria Poblet, Presente!, Carlos Quiles, Samsara, Sonia Sanchez, Staajabu, Jean Stewart, Piri Thomas, Kwame Ture/Stokely Carmichael, Nellie Wong, Merle Woo, and Mitsuye Yamada. See the poet profiles and the poems.
Framing the poetry is music contributed by India Cooke, Eugenio Maldonado “El Viejo Mago," Fred Ho & the Brooklyn Saxophone Quartet,Copper Wimmin, Idris Ackamoor, and the musicians and activists of Shame the Devil.

Documents

Vini Bhansali Reads A 15 year-old Palestinian Woman in Prison Vini Bhansali Reads A 15 year-old Palestinian Woman in Prison
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Vini Bhansali Reads Marilyn Buck's poem on Palestinian political prisoners. As part of Poetry for the People, Vini co-facilitated a writing workshop at the Federal Correctional Institution at Dublin, California (FCI Dublin), where she met Marilyn.
Amiri Baraka introduces Wild Poppies Amiri Baraka introduces Wild Poppies
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Poet, playwright, essayist, teacher and activist Amiri Baraka introduces the audio compendium of poetry, "Wild Poppies", and describes Marilyn Buck's struggle against imperialism with metaphor.
Marilyn Buck Reads Concrete Cocoon Marilyn Buck Reads Concrete Cocoon
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
An excerpt from "The Order: 9 AM PDT", read by the author. Part of "Incommunicado: Dispatches from a Political Prisoner"
Rap for Justice Rap for Justice
Format: mp3Program: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
A rap by Marilyn buck on rebellion against the Prison Industrial Complex, from "Incommunicado: Dispatches from a Political Prisoner"
Marilyn Buck Reads The Tortured Marilyn Buck Reads The Tortured
Year: 2004Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Marilyn Buck reads her short poem on imprisonment. From "Incommunicado: Dispatches from a Political Prisoner"
Merle Woo Reads Pennsylvania Death March Merle Woo Reads Pennsylvania Death March
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Teacher and active member of the Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party, Merle Woo reads Marilyn Buck's poem on death row and political prisoners.
Nellie Wong Reads The Owl Nellie Wong Reads The Owl
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Nellie Wong reads Marilyn Buck's poem on Emma Goldman. works with Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party. She has visited and written to Marilyn for many years. Together, Nellie and Mitsuye Yamada created Mitsuye and Nellie for public television.
Elana Levy reads I Saw Your Picture Today Elana Levy reads I Saw Your Picture Today
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Elana Levy reads Marilyn Buck's poem for Lori Berenson, a political prisoner.
Marilyn Buck introduces Wild Poppies Marilyn Buck introduces Wild Poppies
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Bonus track from "Wild Poppies". Marilyn's greetings to CD listeners, phoned in to the CD release parties, with photos of Marilyn, other contributors and political prisoners.