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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

Dennis Brutus reads Marilyn’s “One Hour Yard Poem” and his own, “Letter #18” Dennis Brutus reads Marilyn’s “One Hour Yard Poem” and his own, “Letter #18”
Date: 4/1/2003Call Number: WP 003Format: CDCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Dennis Brutus, poet and former political prisoner in South Africa, reads “One Hour Yard” by Marilyn Buck, with intro on his support of her as a sister political prisoner. and his poem, “Letter #18” about his time in prison. 2 intros about his work. Had to call poems letters because South Africa government forbade him to write poems. Recorded for Wild Poppies CD.
Fanny Howe reads “Acrobatic” by Marilyn Buck & her own, “Bliss” . Fanny Howe reads “Acrobatic” by Marilyn Buck & her own, “Bliss” .
Date: 11/4/2002Call Number: WP 004Format: CDCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Poet, Fanny Howe, reads Marilyn Buck’s “Acrobatic” and her own poem “Bliss”. There are 3 takes for each poem.
Staajabu reads Marilyn’s “Black August” and her own poem, “The Visit” Staajabu reads Marilyn’s “Black August” and her own poem, “The Visit”
Date: 4/20/2003Call Number: WP 005Format: CDCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Black poet/activist Staajabu reads Marilyn Buck’s poem, “Black August” on Black political prisoners and resistance and her own poem, “The Visit” on going to see a loved one who is incarcerated.
Sansera performs “Jasper Texas” by Marilyn Buck, Sansera performs “Jasper Texas” by Marilyn Buck,
Date: 11/18/2002Call Number: WP 006Format: CDProducers: KPFA Tony PerooCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Sansera, women’s acapella singing group, put Marilyn Buck’s poem, “Jasper, Texas” to music. The poem/song relates the viscious murder of James Byrd and violent racism, to music. Original recording for the Wild Poppies cd.
Carolyn Baxter performs “Thought You Were the One” by Marilyn and her work, “My Block” Carolyn Baxter performs “Thought You Were the One” by Marilyn and her work, “My Block”
Date: 9/15/2003Call Number: WP 007Format: CDProducers: Carolyn BaxterCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Carolyn Baxter, composer, musician, actor and former inmate with Marilyn Buck, puts Marilyn Buck’s poem, “Thought You Were the One”, to music and performs her own, “My Block”, as well.
Presente reads poetry with music Presente reads poetry with music
Call Number: WP 015Format: CDCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Presente sings a poem. (Spanish and English)
Aya de Leon “Live at La Pena” - “Grito de Vieques” Aya de Leon “Live at La Pena” - “Grito de Vieques”
Call Number: WP 018Format: CDProducers: DeLeon DirectionsCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Aya de Leon, writer, activist, spoken word artist performs her work “Grito de Vieques”
Marilyn Buck reads her own poetry Marilyn Buck reads her own poetry
Call Number: WP 021Format: CDCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Marilyn Buck, political prisoner, poet, and activist reads her own poetry behind prison walls, including, “Blind Folded Men”, “Fashion Report”, “Wild Poppies”, “Prayer” and the complete “Incommunicado”.
Nellie Wong, Merle Wu, and Genny Lim read Marilyn Buck’s poetry along with their own. Nellie Wong, Merle Wu, and Genny Lim read Marilyn Buck’s poetry along with their own.
Call Number: WP 022Format: CDCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Nellie Wong, reads a part of Marilyn Buck’s poem, “Incommunicado”, called “The Shu Special Housing Unit”. She also reads “The Owl” by Marilyn Buck as well as her own poem, “Toss Up”. Merle Woo, reads Marilyn’s poem, “Pennsylvania Death March” and her own poem “Yellow Woman Speaks”. Poet Genny Lim reads Marilyn’s “Rescue the Word” and her own poem “Annunciation”.