2 Ishmael Reed Poems

Ishmael Reed is an American poet and songwriter. He’s also known for his satire, essays, and novels. His best work is Mumbo Jumbo, published in 1972. His work deals with cultural themes and often features African American perspectives. Some collections include Cab Calloway Stands in for the Moon or D Hexorcism of Noxon D Awful, A Secretary to the Spirits, and The Reed Reader.

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Beware: Do Not Read This Poem

‘Beware: Do Not Read This Poem’ by Ishmael Reed is a thoughtful poem about culture and how language is used to tell stories. The poem warns against becoming too consumed within one method of storytelling.

Ishmael Reed's 'Beware: Do Not Read This Poem' is known for its eerie story and powerful message. Reed uses a haunting tale of a woman consumed by mirrors to make readers think about how culture and language can pull people in. The poem reflects Reed’s interest in challenging readers to consider how stories and beliefs can trap us, leaving us cut off from the world and consumed by what we think we know.

tonite, thriller was
about an old woman, so vain she
surrounded herself with
many mirrors

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Untitled

‘Untitled’ by Ishmael Reed is a short, precisely worded poem that connects the sale of the Alaskan territory in 1867 to the British plundering of Jamaica.

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