Christian Book Award Finalist

But God speaks through wombs,



birthing prophetic utterances. . . .



Enough of this unbelieving religion



that masquerades as faith.



Divine favor is placed on what we



have disgraced.

In God Speaks Through Wombs, Drew Jackson explores the first eight chapters of Luke's Gospel in a new poetic register. These are declarative poems, faithfully proclaiming the gospel story in all its liberative power. Here the gospel is the "fresh words / that speak of / things impossible."

From the Magnificat ("That girl can sing! . . . She has a voice / That can shatter shackles") to the baptism of Christ ("I stepped in / Committing insurrection"), this collection helps us hear the hum of deliverance—against all hope—that's been in the gospel all along.



Drew Jackson is a poet, speaker, and public theologian whose writing explores the intersection of justice, peace, and contemplation. He is the author of two poetry collections, God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God's Unexpected Coming and Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way. Drew is on staff with the Center for Action and Contemplation and lives with his wife and twin daughters in Brooklyn, New York.



Foreword by Jon Batiste



Introduction

I. Openings



Theophilus (Lover of God)



God Speaks Through Wombs



The Spirit of Elijah



Nazareth



Theotokos (God-Bearer)



Say His Name



Leap!



That Girl Can Sing!



He's Not Like His Father



Faith Opens Mouths

II. Revelations



In Those (These) Days



O Little Town



Where Lambs Feed



Census Day



Sōtēr



Treasures



Ceremonies and Rituals



Provisions



We Gon' Be Alright



Gray Heads



As Children Do

III. Immersions



Alert to the Times



Waters of Insurrection



Tradition



Down By the Riverside



Immersion



Good Trouble



The Waters of My Weeping



All In



I Am Son



Of Earth and Sky

IV. Temptations



Desert of Desire



Prove It



Views



Shuckin' and Jivin'



An Opportune Time (Out in these Streets)



TheAccent of Home



4x100 (My Leg of the Race)



The Anointing



Back Pew Talk



Euangelion (From Below)



Teaching Time



Today



Challenge



Apparently



A Rude Awakening



On the Edge of Things



Possessed



Authority and Power



The Homes of My Friends



N'em



Desert Places



Vocatio

V. Rolling Deep



Gennesaret



Blue Collar



Jackpot



Few and Far Between



Vocation: Redefined



What Love Touches



Withdraw



Crowded Out



The Crew



Who Can Forgive



Rise Up, My People



Internal Dialogue at a Tax Booth



Follow Me



Dinner Party



Around Tables



Wineskins

VI. On the Plain



Fieldsof Wheat



Sabbath



Same Energy



A Grand Unfolding



Nicknames



Hands Full of Heaven



Late Night Commercials



Fermented Lament



Haters



Enemy Love



Turning Cheeks



Grade School Ethics



Logs and Splinters



Our Good Tree



Wise Words from Mom

VII. Life Lessons



I Struggle with the Word Deserves



Under the Rubble



Youth Mortality



Mothers Like Us



Magic Words of Spring



From Behind Bars



G.O.A.T. Status



Demonized



When They Invited Me for Dinner



Alabaster



Three Kinds of Sinners



I Screen Calls

VIII. Parables and Other Things



And Many Others



The Powerof Parable



Of Seeds and Soil



Mysteries



My Light



Family



The Raging Sea



Legion



Testify



Talitha



Never Make Yourself Small



To Be A Realist



In the Room



Eat Your Fill



"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."



"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."



"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."



"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!"



"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!"



"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. ThisSavior is very much for you, not against you."



"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."