Research Catalog

Title

Why the black hole sings the blues : poems, 2007-2020 / Ishmael Reed.

Author

Reed, Ishmael, 1938-

Publication

McLean, IL : Dalkey Archive Press, 2020.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xxvi, 169 pages; 22 cm

Summary

"The poems in this collection were written between 2007 and 2020. When asked to describe the poems here, Ishmael Reed wrote: 'The poems are based on events that occurred around the house to cataclysmic space events. Some of the poems were commissioned. "Moving Richmond" was part of a public art installation created by Mildred Howard. The poem, in huge letters forged into weathering steel billboards greets passengers who enter the new Bay Area mass transit hub in Richmond. Other poems were commissioned by musicians. "Hope Is The Thing With Feathers" was performed by Gregory Porter. "Red Summer, 2015" appeared in print first and then was set to music by David Murray. The longest poem in the book, "Jazz Martyrs," was begun when I learned about the number of black Jazz greats who didn't live past the age of forty. I have been fortunate to live beyond the age of 80. I've found out who my best friends are. The ones who got me there.'"--Back cover.

Subjects

• American poetry > African American authors
• Poetry
• Black author

Genre/Form

Poetry.

Contents

Moving Richmond -- Gustav -- If I Am A Welfare Queen -- Untitled #1 -- Untitled #2 -- Hope Is The Thing With Feathers -- Hip Hop and The Blues -- The Diabetic Dreams Of Cake -- My Colon and Metamucil Get Married -- Why I Will Never Write A Sonnet -- Sweet Pea -- Love is a natural feeling -- Prayer of a Nigerian Official -- Army Nurse -- Honoring My Closest Friends -- Those pesky things called genes -- Untitled #3 -- If I Were A Hospice Worker -- House on Belgrave Street -- The Jazz Martyrs -- The Banishment -- The Return -- Hit and Run -- Capitalism Throws Me A Banquet -- The Oakland Developer -- Eulogy for Carl Tillman -- Untitled #4 -- The Missionaries -- Mino Woman -- Scrub Jays -- Myron -- Be My Monster, love -- Choices -- If I Were A White Leading Man -- Going For Seventy-Five -- The Thing Between Us -- It was a Sad Day In May -- This Girl Is On Fire -- What Ails My Apricot Tree -- Untitled #5 -- Warriors -- Eavesdropping on the Gods -- Cold Paul Ryan -- Luca and Pluto Walk into a Bar -- Red Summer, 2015 -- The Gingko Tree -- Dialog -- Blu -- Just Rollin' Along -- Ethel at 100 -- Blues Christmas -- Carla at 77 -- The Milky Way Is A Hot Head -- The Ultimate Security -- The Black Hole Sings The Blues.

Call Number

Sc D 21-20

ISBN

• 9781628973587
• 1628973587

OCLC

1122188052

Author

Reed, Ishmael, 1938- author.

Title

Why the black hole sings the blues : poems, 2007-2020 / Ishmael Reed.

Publisher

McLean, IL : Dalkey Archive Press, 2020.

Edition

First edition.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Local Subject

Black author.

Research Call Number

Sc D 21-20