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The Sunday Poem is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work.
Allison Whittenberg reads her poem at its conclusion.
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The cover to Tammi Terrell’s 1969 Motown album, Irresistible
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Fast Girl
Entertain us, entertain us all
Give, give, give with your sassy voice, your young body
Despite the migraines…
At 11, on a North Philly street, gang raped
By three creeps
It starts there, the cracks
The headache
Turn fast
Date James Brown
At 17,
Chart a minor hit
Then, just as quick, leave
Go back to books,
No brainer, for a smart girl,
Become a med student, fast tracked, (at U Penn!)
Don’t stay the course,
Motown pulls, again
Singing and riding high
Upbeat, charasmatic duets with Marvin Gaye
His matinee idol looks, his cool delivery, his friendship
All you need to get by?
Then, hassles returned
Roughed up by Ruffin
Hit with a lamp, a motorcycle helmet, and a hammer
In the head
She had to leave him, before he killed her
And, she did.
But the headaches…
The tumor wasn’t a metaphor
it WAS cancer
Fast moving
Those big, black, bottomless, Betty Bop eyes sapped
Struck blind, as baldness
Stole her
Beauty
Our beauty,
Tammi
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Listen to Allison Whittenberg read her poem
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Born in Philadelphia and educated in New York and Wisconsin, Allison Whittenberg is an award winning novelist and playwright. Her poetry has appeared in Columbia Review, Feminist Studies, J Journal, and New Orleans Review. Whittenberg is a six-time Pushcart Prize nominee. Driving with a Poetic License and They Were Horrible Cooks are her collections of poetry. Her favorite singers are Betty Carter, Billie Holiday, and Lee Wiley.
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Listen to the 1968 recording of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell performing “You’re All I Need to Get By.” [Universal Music Group]
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Click here to read previous editions of The Sunday Poem
Click here to read our interview with Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz, authors of But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: An Oral History of the 60’s Girl Groups
Click here to read “A Collection of Jazz Poetry – Winter, 2024 Edition”
Click here to read “Ballad,” Lúcia Leão’s winning story in the 65th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
Click here for information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction
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