Conjure; Selected Poems, 1963-1970.

by Ishmael Reed

Book by Reed, Ishmael

Genres: Poetry

83 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

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

[Larry Lamar Yates]

Reed’s poetry, novels and articles have brought the power of an African-American perspective into my life with an irresistible voice, fully integrating intellect, emotion, and historical perspective, for several decades. This book in particular is one I return to for its power and its wit.

[S P · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a whale in my thigh
There’s a whale in my thigh. at
nite he swims the 7 seas. on
cold days i can feel him sleeping.
i went to the dr to see abt myself.
‘do you feel this?’ the dr asked,
a harpoon in my flesh. i nodded
yes in a clinic room of frozen
poetry.
‘then there’s no whale in yr thigh.’

there’s a whale in my mind. i
feed him arrogant prophets. (16)

Black power poem
A spectre is haunting america—the spectre of
neo-hoodooism.
all the powers of old america have entered into a holy alli
ance to exorcise this spectre: allen ginsberg timothy leary
richard nixon edward teller billy graham time magazine the
new york review of books and the underground press.

may the best church win. shake hands now and come
out conjuring. (19)

man or butterfly
it is like lao tse’s dream , my
strange affair with cities .
sometimes i can’t tell whether
i am a writer writing abt cities
or a city with cities writing
abt me .
a city in peril . everything that
makes me tick is on the bum . all
of my goods and services are wearing
down . nothing resides in me anymore .
i am becoming a ghost town with not
even an occasional riot to perk me
up
they are setting up a
commission to find out what
is wrong with me . i
am the lead off witness (45)

Untitled III
everybody in columbia
heights speaks french
ever go to a party there ?
bore you to tears . (71)

Untitled IV
the difference between
my heart & your
intellect , my un
disciplined way of
doing
things ( i failed
the written driver’s
test for example )
& your science , is
the difference between
the earth &
the snow .

the earth wears its
colors well . builds them
loves them & sticks with
them

the snow needs no one .
it lies there all cold
like . it greases behind
wolftracks & wingless
dead birds .
it is a hardship on the poor

thinking is its downfall (72)

[Mona Kareem · Rating 5 out of 5]

my fav collection of Ishmael Reed