Urban Wild Life: A Collection of Poems for the Autumn of 2020

By Jacqueline Lois

This volume, a first book of poetry helps the urban forester to navigate the intimate discovery of wild life of where she finally learns to see the forest for the trees. Well beyond the order of her mother’s garden and the resting place of grandmother’s chair; a simple recitation of poems guides her path. A first person 21 first century narrative searches and occasionally finds meaning in longing, rejection, sexuality, ministry and spirituality as she emerges from holy hibernation in the 2020 pandemic. In her sixth decade, she finally returns to her first love of poetry; and finds her voice and signs of wonder and wildlife all around.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664145757

Jacqueline Lois

Jacqueline Lois ( nee Strachan) is a native New Yorker born in the Urban Wilderness of 135th Street in Harlem. She finally returns to her first love of writing, poetry and story telling during the great pandemic of 2020 while living on a farm in Maryland. She finally can finally sit and see the forest for the trees. She holds a BA in American Civilization and Psychology from Williams College; a Master’s in Counseling from Howard University as well as a degree in Nursing from Montgomery College and Certification in Nurse Midwifery from the then University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Book preview

dedicated to Vernessa in deepest gratitude for Keeping

House at Crosswinds Farm where Wild Life can heal and be free.

03.jpg

Self Portrait- first day venturing out on the range in my

first home made mask March 2020 Pandemic.

URBAN WILD LIFE

Poems Collected in Autumn 2020

In the Year of Holy Hibernation by

Jacqueline Lois

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline Lois.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020923956

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 12/07/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

820882

CONTENTS

Urban Wild Life Urban Wild Life

How would you spend the day if you were invisible?

O Great and Gracious Creator

If I took a nap

Know Now

Fear of Flying

Baking Bread

What if

Quagmire

A Mother’s Love

Planning for the New Year…. January 3rd

A Year and a Day

Acknowledged and Recognized

As Dawn rises

Communion

At Night

Desires of My Heart

Eulogy

I live Alone

For A Midwife

The Joy of Baptism

Hands Raised in Worship Hands

Prophetic Dream

Hummingbird Day

2nd Hummingbird Day

Second Coming

This Morning

Sacred Writing

Wanna hold your Hand

Waiting

In Place I See You

Just Two

Jealous God

Keeping House

Trauma

February 29th

My Lover Checklist

She is Good

Kindle My Fire

Second Coming

Celibate

Charlottesville

Letter to My Saint

Leaving a List for Amber Joy

Morning Amber joy

Morning Dawns My dear

Mothers of the Bride

Talk

Not Single

One day

Winter Solstice

Personal Ad

Persistent Desire

Fear of Flying

Pink sheets on every seat

Concentrators

On the Clock

Oh dear robin

Pride Poem

Noise

Pastor’s Wife

Lucy Mae’s Designs

Widow’s Mite

Minding My Purpose

Ash Wednesday

Wondering

Hearts Desire

Manna Everyday

Feed Me

Sophie

Smoke Screen

Red Sea

Sustainable Desire

To be a Shepherd called

Saturday Night Rant

There must be some Confusion….

Like Rain in the Desert

01.jpg

(PHOTO CREDITS Amber Joy Meadows Wild Hen with

2 Chicks Key West Florida November 2020)

URBAN

WILD

LIFE

M ystic magic wonderment

I wander no more

As I searched for my mother’s garden and grandmother’s kitchen chair

I found myself in way deep

Surrounded all around

In my urban wildlife sanctuary

I finally saw the forest for the trees

HOW WOULD YOU

SPEND THE DAY IF

YOU WERE INVISIBLE?

I suppose I would be able to go somewhere

Leave this farm

Not be alone

Not sure if I would wear a mask

A mask of invisibility seems good enough

But if I cough or sneeze

Or breathe in the air inside

Would

Could I catch something I do not want

I would like to wander

Understand things

I don’t

Listen to words

And people that

Wouldn’t speak and tell their story

If they knew I was there

I would be unafraid to wander

To learn

To know new things if I were invisible

Invisibility

Vulnerable

Ralph Ellison was the invisible man when he was there

I am not so sure I would want to not be seen

I am here

Loneliness at bay

I would whisper in someone’s ear

September 14, 2020. Bowie ZOOM 11writers L

O GREAT AND

GRACIOUS CREATOR

O nce Again on this day we rejoice

You are the Host and the Meal

The Shelter and the Hearth

Abundant prosperity and healing we bring to all your people

May All feel that wealth of knowing you by Grace

Our Creator of More than enough

Today you hear our joyous passion in serving

You promise us this day our daily bread

Obedience to your command that we love one another

As you have loved us

We shall be known by your love

Impoverished no more

We know we are your most prized treasure

For where Your treasure is, there Your sacred heart will be also

Therefore, my beloved family

May we be always steadfast and unmovable

Always excelling in our Savior’s work as we know it is never in vain

You answer ou r prayer this day in YOUR Mighty Name and in All that is Holy

We end poverty in all its forms everywhere

And So, It Is

Amen

IF I TOOK A NAP

I f I took a nap

Like my new friend

And woke up 20 years from now

Would I talk about how good the sleep

Might I see things differently

What would I have missed

Washington

Had never been to the Catskills

A mountain retreat

Worthy place for a nap