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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

Rajasvini (Vini) Bhansali reads her poem, “Yellow Asters” Rajasvini (Vini) Bhansali reads her poem, “Yellow Asters”
Date: 12/3/2003Call Number: WP 013Format: CDProgram: Wild PoppiesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Vini Bhansali reads her poem, “Yellow Asters” about Marilyn Buck and political prisoners. Bhansali was a poet/teacher at Dublin Federal prison.
Amiri Baraka tribute to Marilyn Buck and political prisoners Amiri Baraka tribute to Marilyn Buck and political prisoners
Call Number: WP 019Format: CDProducers: Matt MeyersCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Amiri Baraka, Black writer, activist, poet and theorist, pays tribute to Marilyn Buck and political prisoners for their resistance to state repression and their creative revolutionary spirit.
Kiilu Nyasha reads “In Memory of Kawasi Balagoon.” Sara Menefee reads “Moon Bereft” Kiilu Nyasha reads “In Memory of Kawasi Balagoon.” Sara Menefee reads “Moon Bereft”
Date: 4/24/2004Call Number: WP 020Format: CDCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Former Black Panter Kiilu Nyasha reads “In Memory of Kawasi Balagoon.” Homeless advocate and poet, Sara Menefee reads “Moon Bereft” by Marilyn Buck. Kiilu Nyasha speaks of visiting and writing Marilyn Buck.
Akwasi Evans and Mariann Wizard read Marilyn Buck’s poems Akwasi Evans and Mariann Wizard read Marilyn Buck’s poems
Date: 12/1/2003Call Number: WP 023Format: CDProducers: Mike KellerCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Mariann Wizard, reads Imperatives , To the Woman Standing Behind Me in Line, and her own poem - The Real Dragon - about Marilyn’s eventual release from prison. Akwasi Evans reads Marilyn’s poems Space and No Frills.
Marilyn Buck statement Marilyn Buck statement
Date: 9/15/2005Call Number: WP 024Format: CDProducers: National Radio ProjectCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Marilyn Buck greeting and thanking supporters attending the release parties for the Wild Poppies CD in New York City and Berkeley, CA. This is a call from a federal prison.