Why the Black Hole Sings the Blues
by Ishmael Reed

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.’