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Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way
Gather it from memory.
Let it touch the earth.
In Touch the Earth, Drew Jackson continues the project he began in God Speaks Through Wombs, reflecting on the Gospel of Luke through poetry. Touch the Earth picks up in chapter nine and continues through the end of Luke's Gospel. Part protest poetry, part biblical commentary, Jackson presents the gospel story in all its liberative power. Here the gospel is the "fresh words / that speak of / things impossible."
From the feeding of the multitude ("The best hosts always provide / take home containers”) to the resurrection of Jesus ("the belly of mother Earth / is, indeed, a womb . . . the humus of life is where we become fully human"), this collection helps us hear the hum of deliverance―against all hope―that's been in the gospel all along.
Let it touch the earth.
In Touch the Earth, Drew Jackson continues the project he began in God Speaks Through Wombs, reflecting on the Gospel of Luke through poetry. Touch the Earth picks up in chapter nine and continues through the end of Luke's Gospel. Part protest poetry, part biblical commentary, Jackson presents the gospel story in all its liberative power. Here the gospel is the "fresh words / that speak of / things impossible."
From the feeding of the multitude ("The best hosts always provide / take home containers”) to the resurrection of Jesus ("the belly of mother Earth / is, indeed, a womb . . . the humus of life is where we become fully human"), this collection helps us hear the hum of deliverance―against all hope―that's been in the gospel all along.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2023
17 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Drew Jackson
2 books22 followersDrew 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 4, 2023
This is a beautiful book, creatively weaving poetry, Scripture, and life together. This is the second book in the series, completing a poetic walk through the book of Luke. These powerful poems help the reader see the stories in the Gospel of Luke with fresh eyes- weaving in the modern-day reality of life as a black man in America. Some poems bring smiles, others bring tears; they are all worthy of reading and re-reading again. I highly recommend this book— even to those who usually prefer prose, this book is worth the read!
March 15, 2023
Touch the Earth is a collection of poems on the way, written as a response to Drew Jackson’s open-hearted reading of Jesus’s life and ministry. By folding his own story–his own family history– into the stanzas of his telling, he presents a Gospel of words, longing to embody truth and startling in their truth-telling.
For example, in the eight poems devoted to the retelling of the prodigal son, the raw story form gives way to motive in the dance of regret and redemption that so closely follows that pattern in our own very present-day lives. Jackson’s poetry is uniquely crafted to challenge and surprise readers with words that come alongside the Truth, “telling it slant.” For the most rewarding experience, read with an open Bible and be patient with the questions that arise within as you ponder big themes of hypocrisy and triumph; mercy and reparation; death and resurrection–all with an open heart.
Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
For example, in the eight poems devoted to the retelling of the prodigal son, the raw story form gives way to motive in the dance of regret and redemption that so closely follows that pattern in our own very present-day lives. Jackson’s poetry is uniquely crafted to challenge and surprise readers with words that come alongside the Truth, “telling it slant.” For the most rewarding experience, read with an open Bible and be patient with the questions that arise within as you ponder big themes of hypocrisy and triumph; mercy and reparation; death and resurrection–all with an open heart.
Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
April 10, 2023
I read this book as a Lenten practice, alongside reading the Luke 9-24 in the First Nations Version of the New Testament. What a perfect combination! Drew wonderfully draws parallels between the biblical text, his own experience, and modern day America, particularly the history of the Black community in America. I’m grateful to Drew for sharing his poetic reflections on Luke with the world. And I was blessed to read this through Lent.
January 10, 2023
This is a truly powerful collection of poems, thought provoking, poignant and hard hitting.
There is an honesty in the writing that cuts through the noise and excuses like a sharp knife. The words are so well crafted by someone who seems to be well read, thus well trained, as well as gifted.
At the start of each poem is a Bible verse, following the Gospel of Luke from start to finish, each offering inspiration for the writing. It provides a theme or concept that sparks the author's imaginative response, framed by the context of his life. I would certainly advise reading the verse before the poem, to offer additional insight into each piece. It is as though Drew has created a new genre of Bible study.
Reading the poems I felt like I needed more. They cry out to be performed, by a skilled actor who can really communicate their depth of meaning and emotion. Some reminded me of rap music lyrics, not an arena I know much about but one that I imagine draws out the emotion and power of the words.
So I then looked up Drew Jackson on YouTube and social media, I found some videos of him delivering some of his pieces... I recommend you do the same, it is well worth it.
Writing poetry is a skill I so admire, being able to refine language to a few words that communicate so much more than prose, and still make it beautiful. When coupled with the themes of faith, life, politics, community and social issues, inspired by the Bible and created by a gifted wordsmith, the works of Drew I find quite inspiring.
Such powerful and personal writing. Poignant and personal. Profound, sometimes like reading the book of Proverbs.
This collection is an extensive body of work with hundreds of poems. I especially enjoyed the pieces around the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the poem called Two Others, about the two thieves on the cross, from Luke 23, that inspired my own novel, Beneath the Tamarisk Tree.
See https://www.robseabrook.com/category/... for more reviews of Christian books.
There is an honesty in the writing that cuts through the noise and excuses like a sharp knife. The words are so well crafted by someone who seems to be well read, thus well trained, as well as gifted.
At the start of each poem is a Bible verse, following the Gospel of Luke from start to finish, each offering inspiration for the writing. It provides a theme or concept that sparks the author's imaginative response, framed by the context of his life. I would certainly advise reading the verse before the poem, to offer additional insight into each piece. It is as though Drew has created a new genre of Bible study.
Reading the poems I felt like I needed more. They cry out to be performed, by a skilled actor who can really communicate their depth of meaning and emotion. Some reminded me of rap music lyrics, not an arena I know much about but one that I imagine draws out the emotion and power of the words.
So I then looked up Drew Jackson on YouTube and social media, I found some videos of him delivering some of his pieces... I recommend you do the same, it is well worth it.
Writing poetry is a skill I so admire, being able to refine language to a few words that communicate so much more than prose, and still make it beautiful. When coupled with the themes of faith, life, politics, community and social issues, inspired by the Bible and created by a gifted wordsmith, the works of Drew I find quite inspiring.
Such powerful and personal writing. Poignant and personal. Profound, sometimes like reading the book of Proverbs.
This collection is an extensive body of work with hundreds of poems. I especially enjoyed the pieces around the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the poem called Two Others, about the two thieves on the cross, from Luke 23, that inspired my own novel, Beneath the Tamarisk Tree.
See https://www.robseabrook.com/category/... for more reviews of Christian books.
April 21, 2024
This was one of the most beautiful, challenging pieces of poetry I’ve read and encourage everyone to read it and sit with it.
January 7, 2023
absolutely loved it just as much as his previous book “God Speaks Through Wombs”! The author continues to take us through the gospel of Luke and writes poems connected to each section of scripture. He writes from the heart about faith and doubt, the Black experience, heritage and family, and so much more. I highly recommended reading the scripture that goes with each poem.
June 23, 2023
“And this is what poetry does: It carries us. It invites us into a story, unfinished, saying: write the next stanza. It gives us no plan, no blueprint for the future, but simply asks us to witness. …Its intent: to get us to sit with the questions again."
Drew Jackson has become one of my very favorite poets, so I was excited to read this one. This is the sequel to his book called “God Speaks Through Wombs.” Together, these two volumes make up a brilliant work of art in which Jackson works his way through the Gospel of Luke and writes poetry that corresponds to each portion of scripture. He blurs the lines between ancient history and present-day, making the Bible come alive in new ways while illuminating the threads that remain true and relevant throughout human history. The poetry is both universal yet deeply personal, written from Jackson’s social location as a Black man living in the U.S. in the 21st century. As he said in the introduction to “God Speaks Through Wombs,” “These poems are not simply a commentary on Luke’s words but an expression of my experience of Black love, Black longing, and Black joy.”
“Touch the Earth” picks up with Luke 9, where “God Speaks Through Wombs” left off, and carries us through the rest of the book of Luke. I especially appreciate the emphasis on the disruptive, liberating work of Love in and through community. In addition to the incredibly moving and powerful theology, Jackson’s writing is magnificent. His poetry is intricate, intimate but relatable, highlighting a unique perspective while showing how we are all connected in the experience of being humans in need of a loving, liberating God. For those of us who are struggling with the Bible, Jackson invites us to see its beauty and power anew through his prophetic imagination, which holds the tension of the now-and-not-yet nature of the Kingdom of God.
Drew Jackson has become one of my very favorite poets, so I was excited to read this one. This is the sequel to his book called “God Speaks Through Wombs.” Together, these two volumes make up a brilliant work of art in which Jackson works his way through the Gospel of Luke and writes poetry that corresponds to each portion of scripture. He blurs the lines between ancient history and present-day, making the Bible come alive in new ways while illuminating the threads that remain true and relevant throughout human history. The poetry is both universal yet deeply personal, written from Jackson’s social location as a Black man living in the U.S. in the 21st century. As he said in the introduction to “God Speaks Through Wombs,” “These poems are not simply a commentary on Luke’s words but an expression of my experience of Black love, Black longing, and Black joy.”
“Touch the Earth” picks up with Luke 9, where “God Speaks Through Wombs” left off, and carries us through the rest of the book of Luke. I especially appreciate the emphasis on the disruptive, liberating work of Love in and through community. In addition to the incredibly moving and powerful theology, Jackson’s writing is magnificent. His poetry is intricate, intimate but relatable, highlighting a unique perspective while showing how we are all connected in the experience of being humans in need of a loving, liberating God. For those of us who are struggling with the Bible, Jackson invites us to see its beauty and power anew through his prophetic imagination, which holds the tension of the now-and-not-yet nature of the Kingdom of God.
November 4, 2023
I told a friend yesterday how Drew Jackson’s poetry introduces me to a needed tension, to see the world and the Word beyond my two eyes. And yet, there is an overlap there. There is a shared humanity in his words that softens me and invites me to lean in.
August 11, 2023
"I let go of everthing / I'm holding on to / for dear life" ("What Must I Do?")
"There are rejected things inside of me / I will one day uncover / only to remold / into poetry." ("Beautiful Rejection")
I rated the first volume 5 stars last year (because I loved the concept). The first couple of sections of this second volume did not grab me, and I was gonna give it 3 stars, but then a third of the way in there were a bunch of zingers, so it's a 4.
My favorites: "Soter, Pt. II", "Like Flint", "Instructions for the Freedom Struggle", "Apokalyspsis (Tell Me)", "A Certain Place", "Weightier Matters", "Eyes on the Sparrow", "Miles", "To Become a Flower", "Eschatology", "We All Eat", "Give Me My Share", "Brink", "When I Came to Myself", "Dog sSpells God Backwards", "Every Living Thing Was Once a Seed", "The Virtue of Annoyance", "Facing Heaven", "Even Infants", "Haiku: Unanswered", "The Kingdom is Ours".
Some of my favorite turns of phrases "We have brought the healers to heel", "critical race of faith", "What if the soul vanishes / when it chases / after nothing / but the wind?", "I want to know / what my heart wants".
"There are rejected things inside of me / I will one day uncover / only to remold / into poetry." ("Beautiful Rejection")
I rated the first volume 5 stars last year (because I loved the concept). The first couple of sections of this second volume did not grab me, and I was gonna give it 3 stars, but then a third of the way in there were a bunch of zingers, so it's a 4.
My favorites: "Soter, Pt. II", "Like Flint", "Instructions for the Freedom Struggle", "Apokalyspsis (Tell Me)", "A Certain Place", "Weightier Matters", "Eyes on the Sparrow", "Miles", "To Become a Flower", "Eschatology", "We All Eat", "Give Me My Share", "Brink", "When I Came to Myself", "Dog sSpells God Backwards", "Every Living Thing Was Once a Seed", "The Virtue of Annoyance", "Facing Heaven", "Even Infants", "Haiku: Unanswered", "The Kingdom is Ours".
Some of my favorite turns of phrases "We have brought the healers to heel", "critical race of faith", "What if the soul vanishes / when it chases / after nothing / but the wind?", "I want to know / what my heart wants".
January 29, 2023
"Touch the Earth: Poems on the Way" completes the journey that Drew Jackson began in his 2021 collection "God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God's Unexpected Coming." Together, they comprise a magnificent meditation on the Gospel of Luke, Black life, family love, and American empire. Many of these poems simply took my breath away, inviting me to linger for a second or third reading. Often, I found them to be reminiscent of the work of some of my favorite poets and social critics, with echoes of the richly biblical imagination of Malcolm Guite, the fiercely truthful loyalty of James Baldwin, the sweetly earthy ordinariness of Mary Oliver, and the prophetically decolonial fire of Joy Harjo. Drew Jackson's poetry inspires similar reflections and evokes similar feelings in me; thus, I enthusiastically recommend both "God Speaks Through Wombs" and "Touch the Earth."
February 8, 2024
Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way is the continuation of a project that was started in God Speaks Through Wombs. These are both books of poetry inspired by the Gospel of Luke. Just like the first book, this is not necessarily a poetic retelling of the stories, but more about taking themes and images from the gospel stories and using that as the base.
I didn't know this going into the first work, but I did coming into this one and I also really enjoyed this collection of poetry. Whether the poetry was self reflective or speaking toward societal injustice and particularly the experience of black men and women, there was a lot that was beautiful and challenging in this work.
Touch the Earth starts in Luke 9 and travels the rest of the way through Luke's Gospel. This covers a bit more distance than the first collection, but it also results in more poems to be contemplated and enjoyed. I definitely wouldn't recommend going quickly through this collection, as there are hard and deep truths to be wrestled with here. Sadly ones that many who call themselves Christian will never really want to engage with in the first place.
I didn't know this going into the first work, but I did coming into this one and I also really enjoyed this collection of poetry. Whether the poetry was self reflective or speaking toward societal injustice and particularly the experience of black men and women, there was a lot that was beautiful and challenging in this work.
Touch the Earth starts in Luke 9 and travels the rest of the way through Luke's Gospel. This covers a bit more distance than the first collection, but it also results in more poems to be contemplated and enjoyed. I definitely wouldn't recommend going quickly through this collection, as there are hard and deep truths to be wrestled with here. Sadly ones that many who call themselves Christian will never really want to engage with in the first place.
March 28, 2023
I’m not sure if I know anyone who narrates a story quite like Drew Jackson does. When you read Touch the Earth you’ll hear the quality of a storyteller who is masterful at walking you through the book of Luke in a way that makes you feel like you are there. The personal touch of the poems invite you into his own story while simultaneously walking you through Luke. The irony is that if you’ve read the book of Luke you may have felt like you’ve been here before yet when led by Drew you notice details you did not the first time. At the same time you realize that, what you thought was happening on those pages when you first read scriptures, is actually not what is happening. As I read touch the earth I came in contact with scriptures that have been around for 2,000 years that I’ve read my entire life—yet Drew’s perspective and personal story telling made me feel like it was my first time reading and I see it all in a new way that brings vibrancy and life to how I see the world. I’m grateful for this book that is a piece of prophetic witness and masterful storytelling. In a broken world that wants us to be hurried, programmed and predictable, Drew helps us to stop and look at the world around us; both nature and our neighbors who make up God’s good and very good creation, as he trains you to see the small moments where God is making this world new amidst the brokenness.
January 3, 2023
Lyrical poems based on Luke. There are some to make you smile, some to make you uncomfortable, and some to make you think in new ways. This collection is provocative but beautiful. I enjoyed reading the corresponding Scripture selection before each poem, which provided some context. A unique reading experience! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy.
January 14, 2023
The second part of Jackson’s journey through the Gospel of Luke by poem. Thought-provoking, vulnerable, moving, emotional. This collection is multi-layered and splendid. I’ve tucked away my favorites to revisit time and time again.
December 21, 2023
The follow-up to God Speaks Through Wombs did not disappoint! I love Jackson’s poetry. It connects with me at a deep level, and I have really enjoyed reading his poetry side by side with the gospel of Luke. These poems were absolutely beautiful and profound!
March 5, 2023
Another beautiful book by Drew Jackson that took my breath away and left me deep in thought many times. I’m so glad this book exists and I’ll be sharing it with many people in my life.
February 4, 2024
My brother has produced for us another beautiful offering that inspires, surprises, and captures with poetic words the full gamut of the healing and liberating power of the gospel.
July 5, 2024
Essential American poetry.
March 6, 2023
This deserves one thousand stars
April 12, 2023
You will either love this work of love or ignore it, just like so many have for so long.
Read
February 21, 2023Drew Jackson continues to write masterfully and moving. Reading the gospels stories through his poetry is moving and eye opening. I love everything he has written and though I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, I also purchased this book for myself to have a hard copy.
January 11, 2024
utterly brilliant! It is stunning to read on its own and beautiful to pair with the scripture that inspired it.
April 1, 2024
I cannot say enough good things about Drew Jackson's poetry collection, TOUCH THE EARTH. I absolutely loved it. I emptied a tin of book darts marking my favorite poems and stanzas and even bought another copy to send to a friend.
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The collection is described as "in conversation" with the book of Luke in the Bible, and I think that's the exact right description. Jackson walks through Luke passage by passage and responds with a poem. Sometimes the poem is directly about the passage, and sometimes it's what the verses made him think about beyond what is directly on the page. We end up with a beautiful collection that enriches the scriptures in really profound ways.
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The poetry in TOUCH THE EARTH talks about everything from parent/child relationships, prayer, Miles Davis, grief, reparations, childhood memories, and Jackson's experience of being a Black man in America. If you're nervous about poetry, don't be with this collection. I found it very approachable, especially when you read it along with the book of Luke.
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Jackson is a pastor, and while his poems don't feel like sermons, I did feel like he was teaching and guiding me through his poetry – showing me things I'd never noticed before in the text, nudging me to ask new questions or look at things from a different perspective. I am sad to finish it, and feel like I am leaving behind something I'll really miss.
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The collection is described as "in conversation" with the book of Luke in the Bible, and I think that's the exact right description. Jackson walks through Luke passage by passage and responds with a poem. Sometimes the poem is directly about the passage, and sometimes it's what the verses made him think about beyond what is directly on the page. We end up with a beautiful collection that enriches the scriptures in really profound ways.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The poetry in TOUCH THE EARTH talks about everything from parent/child relationships, prayer, Miles Davis, grief, reparations, childhood memories, and Jackson's experience of being a Black man in America. If you're nervous about poetry, don't be with this collection. I found it very approachable, especially when you read it along with the book of Luke.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jackson is a pastor, and while his poems don't feel like sermons, I did feel like he was teaching and guiding me through his poetry – showing me things I'd never noticed before in the text, nudging me to ask new questions or look at things from a different perspective. I am sad to finish it, and feel like I am leaving behind something I'll really miss.
October 21, 2023
Drew Jackson does it again.
February 28, 2023
Drew Jackson’s poetry is an immense gift to the world. Like his last book, God Speaks Through Wombs, Jackson once again weaves scripture and verse, emotion and humanity. Touch the Earth has the ability to speak powerfully through such simplicity. Excellent work.
February 17, 2024
Drew's poems are accessible and relevant. As somebody who's been in a slump, his words are part of what helping reignite curiosity and wonder.
May 15, 2023
I’ve spent a lot of time trying to put my thoughts about Touch the Earth into words. Part of that struggle has simply been time constraints in my current schedule. Part of it is that I don’t consider myself a poet and so my criticism and praise here can only come from my own subjective sense of knowing what I like and comparing it to Jackson’s previous collection God Speaks Through Wombs. And part of it because when words are so poignant and powerful, it deserves to be spoken about in a way that matches its emotions.
To be honest, Touch the Earth didn’t hit me as hard as God Speaks Through Wombs. I think that’s because Jackson’s unifying theme in that first volume was clear and concise. The poems in this volume cover more ground. God Speaks Through Wombs covered Luke 1-8. Touch the Earth takes us the rest of the way through the Gospel, covering Luke 9-24. Structurally, I wonder if this would not have better been released as a trilogy. The middle volume could have focused on the ministry of Jesus with a concluding volume speaking to the Easter story.
Regardless, Jackson covers different styles of poetry, different themes, different feels. Some have an easy connection to the verses they are borne from. Others require a little more digging. Some fill the page; others are just a few lines. I’m not a poet, so I won’t try to evaluate it as such. I’ll just say that I find this best read alongside the biblical text. What Jackson writes is a merging of Scripture and his emotions that’s quite powerful and speaks to his experience of being Black in America.
The back cover of the book says that this work is “part protest poetry.” That’s an accurate statement. Jackson captures the ethos of the oppressed in Luke’s gospel (and Jesus’s ministry) and artistically uses that to give voice to those oppressed by the empires of this day. There are some poems I wish that I just had a little bit of commentary or context on. There are others where the message is exceptionally clear. Altogether, if you enjoyed God Speaks Through Wombs, you’ll find this a more than suitable follow-up.
To be honest, Touch the Earth didn’t hit me as hard as God Speaks Through Wombs. I think that’s because Jackson’s unifying theme in that first volume was clear and concise. The poems in this volume cover more ground. God Speaks Through Wombs covered Luke 1-8. Touch the Earth takes us the rest of the way through the Gospel, covering Luke 9-24. Structurally, I wonder if this would not have better been released as a trilogy. The middle volume could have focused on the ministry of Jesus with a concluding volume speaking to the Easter story.
Regardless, Jackson covers different styles of poetry, different themes, different feels. Some have an easy connection to the verses they are borne from. Others require a little more digging. Some fill the page; others are just a few lines. I’m not a poet, so I won’t try to evaluate it as such. I’ll just say that I find this best read alongside the biblical text. What Jackson writes is a merging of Scripture and his emotions that’s quite powerful and speaks to his experience of being Black in America.
The back cover of the book says that this work is “part protest poetry.” That’s an accurate statement. Jackson captures the ethos of the oppressed in Luke’s gospel (and Jesus’s ministry) and artistically uses that to give voice to those oppressed by the empires of this day. There are some poems I wish that I just had a little bit of commentary or context on. There are others where the message is exceptionally clear. Altogether, if you enjoyed God Speaks Through Wombs, you’ll find this a more than suitable follow-up.
December 7, 2023
Firmer in its conviction, stronger in its voice, and more ambitious in its scope, Touch the Earth builds on everything that Drew Jackson began in God Speaks Through Wombs.
I critiqued Wombs for being stronger as a whole than in its constituent poems, but Touch the Earth is a collection where every piece feels equally prophetic and poetic due to consistently strong imagery and language. There are several standouts here, especially “Human Hands,” “Maledictions,” and “Pigeon Economics.” Each poem exemplifies Jackson’s penchant for urgent specificity, a trait that ensures the book maintains momentum.
Cumulatively, this book also retroactively strengthens its predecessor by reframing it as the first beat in a narrative arc. It makes sense that Touch the Earth feels like an escalation of God Speaks Through Wombs because of the definitive shift from the incarnation to our tangible responsibility to, well, touch the earth.
Finally, this book is rewardingly intertextual, and its many references serve a greater purpose than mere Easter Eggs—they suggest a fully integrated faith. They frame systemic problems as intensely spiritual. Remarkably, Jackson never slips into didacticism, instead offering these poems as an invitation for readers to reflect on the gaps between stated spiritual beliefs and their real-world implications. It’s a great example of how art may be able to reach people in a way that something like a sermon wouldn’t.
Ultimately, Touch the Earth is both convicting and encouraging, and it’s a challenge to anybody who might believe their faith is apolitical. This is a book I will return to many times, and I hope Drew Jackson extends this project with another book of the Bible. Ecclesiastes when? 👀
I critiqued Wombs for being stronger as a whole than in its constituent poems, but Touch the Earth is a collection where every piece feels equally prophetic and poetic due to consistently strong imagery and language. There are several standouts here, especially “Human Hands,” “Maledictions,” and “Pigeon Economics.” Each poem exemplifies Jackson’s penchant for urgent specificity, a trait that ensures the book maintains momentum.
Cumulatively, this book also retroactively strengthens its predecessor by reframing it as the first beat in a narrative arc. It makes sense that Touch the Earth feels like an escalation of God Speaks Through Wombs because of the definitive shift from the incarnation to our tangible responsibility to, well, touch the earth.
Finally, this book is rewardingly intertextual, and its many references serve a greater purpose than mere Easter Eggs—they suggest a fully integrated faith. They frame systemic problems as intensely spiritual. Remarkably, Jackson never slips into didacticism, instead offering these poems as an invitation for readers to reflect on the gaps between stated spiritual beliefs and their real-world implications. It’s a great example of how art may be able to reach people in a way that something like a sermon wouldn’t.
Ultimately, Touch the Earth is both convicting and encouraging, and it’s a challenge to anybody who might believe their faith is apolitical. This is a book I will return to many times, and I hope Drew Jackson extends this project with another book of the Bible. Ecclesiastes when? 👀
March 20, 2023
Where can you find fresh words from the Gospel? In Touch the Earth, Drew Jackson shares poems on the way. These are poems reflecting on select verses and passages from the Gospel of Luke.
Make the Scriptures Personal
What I love the most about his poems is how he makes the Scripture personal. While I wouldn’t pretend to relate to everything he writes of, I’m blessed just by being invited into his world. And when I read, I can see. Jackson knows what it means to take Jesus at his word.
What interests me the most is how Jackson’s poems aren’t long. Some are very brief, but they make a big impact. Jackson’s economy of words is impressive. And his ability to turn a phrase is top-notch.
Everyday Life
I enjoyed the way he brings the truths of Scripture to everyday life. In “Leftovers,” Jackson says “The best hosts always provide take home containers.” It’s a line that hits when I think about the role food plays in my Asian American culture.
There is a realness and a toughness in Jackson’s voice. He has wrestled with the Scriptures and reworked them into art. Read this book during your devotions and you’ll see Scripture in a different way. Deeply inspiring. Truly moving. I am richer for reading his words.
I received a media copy of Touch the Earth and this is my honest review.
Make the Scriptures Personal
What I love the most about his poems is how he makes the Scripture personal. While I wouldn’t pretend to relate to everything he writes of, I’m blessed just by being invited into his world. And when I read, I can see. Jackson knows what it means to take Jesus at his word.
What interests me the most is how Jackson’s poems aren’t long. Some are very brief, but they make a big impact. Jackson’s economy of words is impressive. And his ability to turn a phrase is top-notch.
Everyday Life
I enjoyed the way he brings the truths of Scripture to everyday life. In “Leftovers,” Jackson says “The best hosts always provide take home containers.” It’s a line that hits when I think about the role food plays in my Asian American culture.
There is a realness and a toughness in Jackson’s voice. He has wrestled with the Scriptures and reworked them into art. Read this book during your devotions and you’ll see Scripture in a different way. Deeply inspiring. Truly moving. I am richer for reading his words.
I received a media copy of Touch the Earth and this is my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews