GOD SPEAKS THROUGH WOMBS: POEMS ON GOD’S UNEXPECTED COMING
Drew E. Jackson’s debut poetry collection, God Speaks Through Wombs, is a unique contribution to the world of poetry. This collection is a poetic telling of the first eight chapters of the Gospel of Luke, centering the theme of liberation. Throughout history the story of the Gospels has been co-opted by the powerful, and this is continuing to happen in our day. This collection of poems is an attempt to recover those voices that have so often been silenced. At the same time, this poetry is deeply personal and engages how the Gospel of Luke interacts with Jackson’s own story of being a Black man navigating the landscape of American life.
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PRAISE
A Finalist for the Christian Book Award
"In a time like this, we need divine creativity, and the words Drew has written are just that. . . . His words are powerful, and his creative process is filled with mysterious and divine wonder." —Jon Batiste, Grammy Award-Winning Artist
"If poetry is the art of the indirect, the undefended doorway into deeper consciousness, then Drew Jackson is a wonderful new teacher on the scene! Seldom have I read such direct insight into spiritual moments and spiritual matters . . . . I am already eager to see and hear more!" —Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation
"With undeniable depth and brilliant creativity, Drew Jackson offers a powerful poetic tour through the Gospel of Luke. Drew joins poignant cultural analysis with biblical faithfulness, and does so in a way that kept me captivated throughout. This book is a gift, offering us a fresh vision of the gospel story with profound flow." —Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and author of The Deeply Formed Life
"God Speaks Through Wombs is a fresh take on the first eight chapters of the Gospel of Luke and a poetic invitation into the world of the Scriptures. What we read here is not translation, but rather more. We are transported into the ministry of Jesus and beckoned to walk alongside him with the oppressed he came to save. Jackson's poetry brings to light the fact that Christ's ministry is, in many ways, an affirmation of human dignity in general and of Black dignity specifically. This Savior is very much for you, not against you." —Malcolm B. Foley, director of the Black Church Studies Program at Truett Seminary
"This book of poetry offers a beautifully nuanced perspective on themes of oppression, of liberation, of suffering, of hope for what has been promised. Drew weaves together biblical experiences with the language and perspectives of modern activists. His poetry allows us to experience the voice of God through words on the page. I will be using these poems for creative inspiration, as prayer, as a liturgy for all the things that are difficult to speak about in a dark and difficult world. This collection will offer you great solace, speaking life into your spirit." —Nikole Lim, founder and international director of Freely in Hope and author of Liberation Is Here
"I've known Drew for over a decade, and this book bears witness to his soul: a careful listener, passionate conversation partner, bold truth teller, and tenderhearted empath. Drew has always been an artist, crafty with words and sounds. God Speaks Through Wombs reflects Drew's soulful artistry. Through his poetic genius, Drew effortlessly weaves together the ancient stories of the Gospel of Luke with social movement history, popular culture, contemporary justice issues, theological rigor, and more. Every pastor, theologian, faith-rooted activist, and person of faith who cares about the intersection of faith and justice needs this book. You won't be able to preach, teach, pray, sing, or question the Gospel of Luke the same!" —Brandon Wrencher, organizer, writer, and founding pastor of the Good Neighbor Movement
"This poetic commentary weaves biblical narrative with contemporary issues of justice, lament, and hope. It is for anyone looking to meditate deeply on the Gospels. Jackson's unique approach, along with his heart for God's Word, makes this collection an instant classic, a true gift to the church." —Rachel Joy Welcher, poetry editor at Fathom Magazine
TOUCH THE EARTH: POEMS ON THE WAY
Touch the Earth continues what Jackson started in God Speaks Through Wombs—conversing with the Gospel of Luke through the lens of his own experience as a Black man navigating American empire. He picks up in chapter 9 and continues through the end of Luke’s Gospel. Emerging out of the struggle of the journey, these poems are interested in what it means to be on the Way—in the dirt and dust where things get real and faith puts on flesh.
Available wherever books are sold!
PRAISE
Through craft and question, through elegy (his mother sings in these poems) and imagination, through curiosity and compassion, Drew has written a poetic response to the gospels…that shows what happens when you take language seriously…Touch the Earth is built on study: of literature, of life, of poetry, of friendship, of love. Touch the Earth is built on a theological imagination that takes the body seriously. Touch the Earth is built on a life of practice and love. It is a treasure of linguistic skill. It is also an invitation. —Pádraig Ó Tuama, author of In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World and host of the Poetry Unbound podcast with On Being Studios
"In Touch the Earth, Drew Jackson's poetry offers a word-weary world a new language of engagement, disruption, and insight. As with all great poetry, the words are spare, but the literary images loom large, creating indelible impressions on the reader. Like echoes that reverberate long after the first sound, the poems stay with you, they dance with your spirit. After reading the poem 'Shake the Dust,' I am still considering a much broader definition of power, one no longer confined to the monarchs, governments, and oppressors but with a conscience as sticky as cling wrap that refuses to allow its memories to be shaken loose. This collection is a meditative treasure." —Barbara Holmes, author of Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church and Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village
"Touch the Earth is an interdisciplinary work full of Blackness, divinity, grief, community, and many other elements of life that make us human, specific yet universal. It's not a text that one can digest quickly. Each word has to seep into the grooves of the body." —Morgan Jerkins, senior editor of ZORA magazine and author of This Will Be My Undoing
"This collection is a companion for mystics and storytellers alike. Poem after poem, Drew Jackson approaches questions of community and trust and meets them not with the bore of certainty but a reverence for the unspoken, for mystery and suspense. Jackson's words will leave you waiting in the silence . . . but never alone."—Cole Arthur Riley, creator of Black Liturgies and author of This Here Flesh
"I'm one of those people who likes the idea of reading poetry more than actually reading it. Occasionally, however, I stumble on a poet like Drew Jackson, whose lyrical language and urgent themes set a hook in me. Drawing on the liberating Jesus of Luke's Gospel, Jackson explores heritage, history, and a longing for freedom. Touch the Earth pushes back against the spirit of scarcity and invites readers into an achingly authentic spirituality. Whether you are a 'poetry person' or not, this book will leave you mesmerized."—Jonathan Merritt, contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch
Drew Jackson’s poetry touches something very deep in me as he exposes truths not easily spoken of directly and yet truths that must be told…and faced. I pray you will partake of Drew’s newest collection of poems with an open heart and an open Bible, engaging familiar stories with new and different eyes. Promise me you will not rush through them but that you will sit still and ponder, for a very long time, what these things might mean. Promise me you will sit with the questions these poems raise until God speaks and tells you what is yours to do in response. I know that’s what I will be doing! —Ruth Haley Barton, founder, Transforming Center, author of Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
“There are seasons for prose and seasons for poetry, and we find ourselves, certainly, in the latter, and I can think of no better guide and no more insightful voice than Drew's for this moment. Drew Jackson's ability to challenge and surprise through language and rhythm is unparalleled, and I'm so grateful for these poems."—Shauna Niequist, New York Times bestselling author of I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet
“In Touch the Earth, Drew Jackson gives us language for how to move through the earth and towards one another.” —Ekemini Uwan, public theologian and cohost of Truth’s Table Podcast