God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God's Unexpected Coming

by Drew Jackson, Jon Batiste (Foreword)

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.

Genres: Poetry, Christian, Faith, Audiobook, Religion, Christianity, Spirituality

160 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2021

About the author

Drew E.Jackson is a poet and author of God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God’s Unexpected Coming and Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way. His work has appeared in Oneing, Made for Pax, The Journal from the Centre for Public Christianity, Fathom Magazine, and other publications.

He received his B.A. in Political Science from the Univ. of Chicago and his M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He lives in New York City with his wife and daughters.

Reviews

[K.J. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackson’s poems spark to life from the book of Luke and bring the gospel’s message of liberation to life right here and now. He’s given us a work of theological art, profound antiracism, and stunning hope. I read it in the mornings along with the Scripture passages the poems are connected to, and I truly didn’t want it to end.

[Michael Stalcup · Rating 5 out of 5]

God Speaks Through Wombs is hands-down my favorite poetry collection of the year. Pastor-poet Drew Jackson offers us an fresh and insightful collection of poems inspired by the first eight chapters of Luke's gospel — poems simultaneously rooted in the Scriptures and his experience as a Black man in America.

Jackson's poems consistently draw out Luke's theme of,

"History.
Told by those
lovers of Adonai
from the underside.

This story.
From the mouths
of the disempowered
and marginalized."

Fusing the honest, messy emotions of the Psalms with his own style of spoken word poetry, Jackson uses moments from Luke 1-8 as launching points to speak on contemporary realities — from the mass incarceration of Black men ("The Waters of My Weeping," inspired by John the Baptist's imprisonment) to the formative wisdom of his mother ("Teaching Time," inspired by Jesus sitting in the synagogue).

Jackson's poems are clear and approachable, written to be understood by everyday folks — something which cannot be said for a lot of poetry — yet there are deeper layers here for those willing to sit with his words.

This book is a gift to the church, and Jackson has quickly become one of my new favorite poets whose work I will be following closely for years to come. Highly recommended.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

God Speaks through Wombs considers Luke 1-8 in poetry. Jackson employs a variety of free verse and nonce forms to interpret these passages in his context. Good poetry deserves to be spoken rather than read, and Jackson's cadences leap off the page into the ear. As a formalist, an entire book of free verse can be a stretch for me, but Jackson is more committed to rhythm than other free verse poets I've read, which made this book a joy to read. Some free verse I've read seems like stuffy, floral prose with line breaks, but Jackson's is obviously poetic without the line breaks (some poems are not printed with breaks). The callbacks to music and lyrics, and repetitions of his nonce forms, also make the poetic devices stand out.

Jackson's poems on Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus' feet with perfume Luke 7:36-50 were my favorite, though the opening poems about the Nativity are a close second.

If Jackson keeps working on the book of Luke, I'm here for it! I'll leave you with my favorite poem, no surprise that it's about one of my favorite passages of Scripture...

"That Girl Can Sing!"
Luke 1:46-56

I mean, she can sang!
She has a voice
that can shatter shackles.
Her tune is no soothing lullaby;
It thunders down
through the arena of time.

Sing, Mary! Sing!

Like Fannie at the marches.
Like the High Priestess of the Soul
belting out her Black Gold.
Like Hannah breaking bows
of mighty warriors.

You betta sing, Mary!

Watch out! The sound of her voice
will cast them down! Way down!
No doubt they will try to quiet you,
soften you, make you into
a domesticated maiden,
but we're gonna play this song.

Go on, Mary!

Bless our ears with your sonic theology.
Lift us up with your melodic doctrine.
Magnify! Magnify!
This voice is magnificent.

[Anna K Baskaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be read and reread. Mulled over and meditated on… maybe even want to memorize some of them.
Only praise for these poems on God’s unexpected coming.

[Candace S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry collection, reimagining the first 8 chapters of the Gospel of Luke, should be required reading for all Christians, especially those who plan to talk about the Bible to others.

God Speaks Through Wombs is yet another reminder that if we have only heard the gospel interpreted through the lens of straight, white males, we haven’t really heard it at all.

[Stephanie Mathews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great poetry. It is really good when read along with the corresponding Bible
verses.

[Amy Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully interwoven poems, combining the stories of scripture (Luke 1-8) and the realities of living in the world today.

[Luke Britcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a very interesting premise, but I struggled through a lot of it.

[Lauren Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this whole little poetry book on Christmas Day

the only book about God I’ve been able to stomach for a while

“We have always known that liberation is Gods prerogative”

I took a picture of like 15 of these poems……

…….they just make sense

[Cara Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

My God. Give. Me. More.

[Ella Edelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book wasn’t what I totally expected it to be, there were many powerful poems in here, especially the title poem, “God speaks through wombs.” I had expected that the collection would focus on the incarnation, but that was the subject of only a few poems at the beginning. I think the poem “Theotokos (God-Bearer),” in that section is worth the price of admission, and I would like to return to this collection sometime that’s not during Advent. The theme of liberation is central, and that perspective or angle into the book of Luke I found valuable and illuminating.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of poems on Black Liberation that are in conversation with: what it means to be Black, the first few chapters of Luke written “from below”, the United States’ state of being as an Empire, God’s heart for justice + freedom from oppression for God’s people.

This work has poured into me like a fountain of Hope, an encouragement to do more for the freedom of All people, and an affirmation of Life being sacred + worthy of being written about.

This is the kind of work I’ve been longing / craving / desiring for. Thank you, Drew Jackson. Thank you, God!

[Ashleigh Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and thought provoking poetry. This is the best para scripture book I’ve read in a long time. I especially loved how each poem has a corresponding scripture so you can go directly back to that passage and read it too.
Just order a copy, you won’t be disappointed!!!

[Graydon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating, beautiful, brilliant, and creative. These poems brought a fresh word on Luke’s first eight chapters, and all I could do was savor it! This is a powerful collection of writing

[Jeremy Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry is still a fairly new genre for me. When I heard about God Speaks Through Wombs, which contains poetry directly inspired by the first part of the Gospel of Luke, I was intrigued. That wasn't a kind of poetry I'd read before. Sure I've read poetry that spoke about faith and Jesus, but not one quite as focused as this work, so I decided to give it a try.

The result wasn't exactly what I expected, but I still found it very enjoyable. As with any collection of poetry there were ones I connected with more than others, but I found the collection to be very solid. This isn't just a poetic retelling of the stories we read in the gospels, simply adjusting the prose to poetry. It reflects on themes, connects themes and stories to current events and realities, and sometimes even shifts the picture of the events to modern time and what these things might look like today. To be honest I was kind of just expecting a poetic retelling, but I think this was so much more.

I would very much recommend reading this, or listening to this, with the book of Luke open. Each poem has a passage associated with it. So it's nice to be able to connect the portion of Luke's gospel to the poem. Sometimes this was obvious, while others times having the references very much helped.

That said I enjoyed the work quite a bit, even if there were still poems that didn't hit me as much as others. This does only go to the end of chapter 8 of Luke, but he has a continuation of this work out and I will be looking forward to picking that up sometime in the future.

[Beth Anne]

I listened to this collection of poetry (read by the author), I spired by events in the gospel of Luke. It was a sort of pre-advent reading for me, and while it’s my habit to not give star rating to poetry, this was probably a 4 star book for me.

I listened to this at recorded speed, intentionally making myself slow down and listen to these poems as they were intended to be read. I found that to be very powerful and beautiful. The one detractor for me with listening to these is that I often found myself scrambling to look up the corresponding verses in Luke. This wasn’t always possible as I listened in the car, but I found that I appreciated some of the poems more knowing what verse inspired them. There was at least one instance where I had a factual issue (Elizabeth naming John instead of Zachariah naming him), but on the whole I really liked the way this was done.

I would read it again, but I’d love to have a physical copy so I can better follow along.

[Kelly Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow. I have no words to do this book justice. These poems help bring scripture to life—deepening the realities both of the people who interacted with Jesus and revealing how the Lord’s heart for justice reaches into our lives now, and especially the lives of black men and women. Beautifully written and interwoven with Luke 1-8. Highly highly highly recommend for everyone, not just Christians.

[Cassie Gonyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually choose poetry, but a friend gifted this book to me with her endorsement of it! I really enjoyed how each of the poems tell you which passage in Luke they are inspired by. I used this book almost as a devotional each morning, reading the poem once, then Luke, then back to the poem. Truly a beautiful way to spend time with Jesus!

[Brandi Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poetry and as a reflection on faith this collection is excellent. I experienced it as a library copy but this will have to become part of my permanent collection so that I can sit long and well with these wonderful words.

[Sarah Butterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really accessible and meaningful poetry for people of faith, written through the lens of justice. I read this as an Advent devotional and enjoyed it greatly!

[Erin Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful poetry all based on scripture.

[Benjamin Shurance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am giving this 5 stars not so much because it's all AH-MAZING, but because it's exactly the type of book that I would love to write. Here we have a collection of poems meditating on the Luke 1-8; there were plenty of poems that didn't hit me, but there were also arresting moments when the imagery or rhyme or wordplay or juxtaposition really did. My favorite two were "On the Edge of Things" and "Withdraw". Religious poetry is hard to do well, obviously, as it's easily didactic or sentimental, but I thought these worked well. Other ones that I liked include: "Faith Opens Mouths", "Treasures", "Provisions", "As Children Do" (I'm a sucker for anadiplosis), "All In", "Apparently", "A Rude Awakening", "The Homes of My Friends", "Desert Places", "Gennesaret", "What Love Touches", "Hands Full of Heaven", "And Many Others", "Mysteries", "Legion", and "Never Make Yourself Small".

[Brice Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

God Speaks Through Wombs is a really special collection in that there are very few artists of faith producing this kind of work. Perhaps it is the fear of somehow bringing the profane too close to the sacred, but I find that most "religious art" simply restates scripture—it never responds to it.

Drew Jackson responds. He brings the book of Luke into conversation with so many modern issues, and I'm sure that will make some readers squeamish as it could flirt with their notion of heresy. It's meaningful because it's real, though, and it treats the Bible as real enough to have discourse with.

That's powerful.

The poetic voice Drew Jackson maintains throughout the book is approachable but never elevated. This both strengthens the "realness" of the book and—for me at least—undermines the longevity of the poems. As a whole, the collection resonated with me, but I would be hard-pressed to recall a single line or a particular poem. For casual readers, this readability may be a strength, but for avid poetry readers, it might be a little disappointing.

That said, as someone who struggles to separate the iconography of the incarnation from its purpose, I needed to read a book like this, and I hope to see more Christians engaged in similar projects. Also, I happily look forward to subsequent books from this poet.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Drew Jackson's second poetry collection on the book of Luke early last year, I knew I wanted to dig into his first, GOD SPEAKS THROUGH WOMBS, during Advent and beyond.

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH WOMBS is a collection of poetry in conversation with the book of Luke, chapters 1-8, covering the annunciation, Jesus' birth, and the beginning of His earthly ministry.

I loved it so much, just as I loved TOUCH THE EARTH. Both collections are beautiful, moving, and thought-provoking. I loved going through the beginning of Luke along with GOD SPEAKS THROUGH WOMBS and I think I'm going to keep going and re-read TOUCH THE EARTH as I finish the book of Luke.

I love the way both collections illuminate scripture, challenge me to consider different perspectives, and nudge me toward a deeper understanding of the work of Jesus. So, so good.

[Colleen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry book read more like a stunning devotional. Jackson brought forth insightful meditations on the book of Luke. I feel like I read the Christmas story and the early days of Jesus ministry with new eyes. If you love beautiful words and meditations of the Scriptures this is SUCH a good read!

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Loved Jackson’s voice and “divine creativity” this advent season.

[Danette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't believe I gave a book of poems five stars! This book pairs perfectly with the first chapters of Luke. I took it slowly and read the poems aloud when I could. Stirring.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous companion to reading the gospel of Luke, offering insights and perspectives that deepen understanding and possibilities as only poetry can.

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way the author took the Jesus birth narrative and applied it to his daily experience was nothing short of brilliant.

[Fr. Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Striking images woven together with words. Loved walking through the Gospel of Luke in one hand, and this book of poetry in the other. Opened the Gospel up in a whole new way.