beware:do not read this poem by Ishmael Reed AC

Last updated over 1 year ago

10 questions

1

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beware:do not read this poem by Ishmael Reed AC

Last updated over 1 year ago

10 questions

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

many mirrors
it got so bad that finally she
locked herself indoors & her
whole life became the

mirrors
one day the villagers broke
into her house, but she was too
swift for them. she disappeared

into a mirror
each tenant who bought the house
after that, lost a loved one to

the old woman in the mirror:

first a little girl

then a young woman

then the young woman's husband
the hunger of this poem is legendary
it has taken in many victims
back off from this poem
it has drawn in your feet
back off from this poem
it has drawn in your legs
back off from this poem
it is a greedy mirror
you are into this poem. from

the waist down
nobody can hear you can they?
this poem has had you up to here

belch
this poem aint got no manners
you cant call out from this poem
relax now & go with this poem
move & roll on to this poem
do not resist this poem
this poem has your eyes
this poem has his head
this poem has his arms
this poem has his fingers
this poem has his fingertips
this poem is the reader & the
reader the poem
statistic: the US bureau of missing persons re-

  ports that in 1968 over 100,000 people

  disappeared leaving no solid clues

  nor trace     only
a space     in the lives of their friends

1

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

many mirrors
it got so bad that finally she
locked herself indoors & her
whole life became the

mirrors
one day the villagers broke
into her house, but she was too
swift for them. she disappeared

into a mirror
each tenant who bought the house
after that, lost a loved one to

the old woman in the mirror:

first a little girl

then a young woman

then the young woman's husband
the hunger of this poem is legendary
it has taken in many victims
back off from this poem
it has drawn in your feet
back off from this poem
it has drawn in your legs
back off from this poem
it is a greedy mirror
you are into this poem. from

the waist down
nobody can hear you can they?
this poem has had you up to here

belch
this poem aint got no manners
you cant call out from this poem
relax now & go with this poem
move & roll on to this poem
do not resist this poem
this poem has your eyes
this poem has his head
this poem has his arms
this poem has his fingers
this poem has his fingertips
this poem is the reader & the
reader the poem
statistic: the US bureau of missing persons re-

  ports that in 1968 over 100,000 people

  disappeared leaving no solid clues

  nor trace     only
a space     in the lives of their friends

What does the author, Ishmael Reed, refer to in the opening stanza of the poem?

He offers a statistic from the U.S. Bureau of Missing Persons.

He refers to the poem’s title and warns his readers not to read the poem.

He refers to an episode of the television show Thriller, in which an old woman surrounded herself with mirrors.

What happens when the villagers break into the old woman’s house?

The old woman calls the police and has the villagers arrested.

The old woman puts a curse on the villagers.

The old woman disappears into the mirror.

What happens to the tenants who, over the years, buy the house?

They move out of the house quickly when they discover it is haunted.

They become prisoners of the old woman’s spirit.

They lose a loved one to the old woman in the mirror.

What does the speaker say is “legendary”?

the number of missing persons

the hunger of this poem

the reader of this poem

To what does the speaker compare the poem?

a missing person

a reflective pond

a greedy mirror

What does the speaker say happens to the readers of this poem?

They are soothed by the poem’s quiet words and calming rhythm.

They enjoy the poem’s appeal to the readers’ sense of hearing.

They are consumed or swallowed up by the words of the poem.

What warning does the speaker give to the readers of this poem?

The speaker tells readers to not resist the power of the poem and to allow themselves to be drawn into its words.

The speaker tells readers to report any missing persons to the police

The speaker warns readers to ignore the words of the poem.

What are the characteristics of Ishmael Reed’s writing style?

Reed uses a definite rhyme scheme.

Reed uses quatrains, or four-line stanzas.

Reed uses irregular abbreviations and little punctuation.

Which of the following literary elements is not used in this poem?

end rhyme

personification

metaphor

What is the best description of the tone of this poem?

playful

ominous

arcastic

What does the author, Ishmael Reed, refer to in the opening stanza of the poem?  

He offers a statistic from the U.S. Bureau of Missing Persons.

He refers to the poem’s title and warns his readers not to read the poem.

He refers to an episode of the television show Thriller, in which an old woman surrounded herself with mirrors.

What happens when the villagers break into the old woman’s house? 

The old woman calls the police and has the villagers arrested.

The old woman puts a curse on the villagers.

The old woman disappears into the mirror.

What happens to the tenants who, over the years, buy the house?

They move out of the house quickly when they discover it is haunted.

They become prisoners of the old woman’s spirit.

They lose a loved one to the old woman in the mirror.

What does the speaker say is “legendary”? 

the number of missing persons

the hunger of this poem

the reader of this poem

 To what does the speaker compare the poem? 

a missing person

a reflective pond

a greedy mirror

What does the speaker say happens to the readers of this poem? 

They are soothed by the poem’s quiet words and calming rhythm.

They enjoy the poem’s appeal to the readers’ sense of hearing.

They are consumed or swallowed up by the words of the poem.

What warning does the speaker give to the readers of this poem? 

The speaker tells readers to not resist the power of the poem and to allow themselves to be drawn into its words.

The speaker tells readers to report any missing persons to the police

The speaker warns readers to ignore the words of the poem.

What are the characteristics of Ishmael Reed’s writing style? 

Reed uses a definite rhyme scheme.

Reed uses quatrains, or four-line stanzas.

Reed uses irregular abbreviations and little punctuation.

Which of the following literary elements is not used in this poem? 

end rhyme

personification

metaphor

What is the best description of the tone of this poem?

playful

ominous

arcastic