New and Collected Poems, 1964-2006

by Ishmael Reed

One of the founding fathers of multi-cultural studies, award-winning writer Ishmael Reed first came to the attention of the literary world as a poet, and despite success as a novelist, playwright, essayist, and recording artist, has never ceased to be a poet. He delves into spiritual and political waters with his own unexpected and uniquely powerful voice.

New and Collected Poems, 1966-2006 captures four decades of Reed's inimitable verse, a visionary journey from Chattanooga to New York, from Africa to Oakland. In language that is pointed, innovative, and profound, Reed weaves politics and war with Yoruba and Jazz, and takes on American culture, from prejudice to Pepsi to George W. Bush.

In this important and long-awaited volume — the first poetry collection from the MacArthur fellow in nearly twenty years — one of America's most esteemed and intrepid poets, whose “Beware Do Not Read This Poem” has been cited by Gale Research as one of about 20 poems most frequently studied in literature courses, shows why Reed has helped define our cultural forefront from the '60s to today.

Genres: Poetry, African American

478 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

Ishmael Scott Reed is an American poet, essayist, and novelist. A prominent African-American literary figure, Reed is known for his satirical works challenging American political culture, and highlighting political and cultural oppression.

Reed has been described as one of the most controversial writers. While his work has often sought to represent neglected African and African-American perspectives, his energy and advocacy have centered more broadly on neglected peoples and perspectives irrespective of their cultural origins.

Reviews

[kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ishmael Reed is a true global citizen . The poems in this book range from poems about social justice to meditations on art. Reed even writes a few poems in Yoruba and Japanese.
But he also stays true to timeless topics, such as loss:"i mean all of us/have had our dreams broken over some/body's head. those scratched phono/graph records of d soul" Reed often looks at issues from different perspectives, giving the reader a chance to see with a new pair of eyes. "But there's two sides to every/story or maybe three or four/The way we hurt each other/Yet reached each other's core"
And truthfully, there is a lot of hurt in this book. The victors write history and rarely do we confront the stories told by the teary eyed and agonized. Reed attempts to confront this incongruous fact. He even gives us a poem from the voice of Thomas Jefferson, as he is about to rape his slave. "Her defiance excites me/but i warned her that/if her vain attempts continued/I would put her son on a spit."
In short, this is not a book for the Philistines or for the faint of heart hero worshipers, but if you would like to broaden your perspective and shatter your glass idols, I would encourage you to read Reed.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

"the universe is a spiraling big band in a polka-dotted speakeasy effusively generating new light every one night stand" That was the first bit of poetry I ever memorized, and even before finding this book (after patiently waiting for over 11 years for the early books of Reed's to be collected in one spot) I could still recite those lines with immediate recall.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure I could name any poet— not even Langston Hughes— whose work interrogates blues forms as effectively as Reed’s. The early works here are more abstract, while later poems are wonderfully earthy, often hilarious, frequently biting in their assessment of national character, and—above all— written to be read aloud, with abandon. An original.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I celebrated Nat Poetry Mo 2013 by attending a reading by Reed in Chattanooga and ended up scoring this book. It's living on top of my bedside shelf and I am cracking it open frequently. I love you, Ishmael Reed! What a jazzman!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Reed's poems are both intelligent and inflammatory. Plus, he's from Buffalo, where I live. Tim Russert is too, but he's no where near as cool.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's far too easy to postpone poetry.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good stuff.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive collection of the works of a versatile poet.

[Ernest Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ishmael Reed is a Great American Writer. He'll help you through these troubled times.

[Mills College Library]

811.54 R3244n 1988

[Christina M Rau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ishmael Reed's collection is a lesson in rhythm and how to use a refrain in poetry. This collection spans decades, countries, and topics. A bit overwhelming at times, but so very strong.

[Rafael Solorio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to have come across this collection. Most of the poems were above me, but I'm now seeing that this is just Ishmael Reed's style of writing. There are a few repeated... Scenarios? Words? Synchronisms that seem to hit home/relate to me a bit. I love it.


For Dancer:

When lovers die they blossom
grapes
That's why there's so much
wine in love
That's why I'm still drunk
on you

[Brian Beatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody writes poems like this today. And it's our loss.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since his collection Points of View isn't on Goodreads, I'm using this to stand in for it.

[Stephen A Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diverse collection of Reed's poetry. I enjoyed it.