Gilbert, Jeremiah

About the poet: Jeremiah Gilbert received his BA from California State University, and his MA from the University of California, Riverside. He currently teaches at two southern California colleges. His work has appeared in dozens of literary and little magazines, including Mind in Motion, Potpourri, Clark Street Review, Stirring, and The Old Red Kimono, and has also appeared in anthologies. He is a staff writer for the online writer’s journal NovelAdvice, where he contributes a monthly column.

In a Strange Land

2003 0-7734-3494-1
This collection of poems originated in the poet’s experience of going to church for the first time at the age of twenty-six. The first section, entitled “Church” is about the early times, observations, feelings, questions. The second section, “State” is about the state of religion in the world today, addressing televangelists, homophobia based in Scripture, and other areas where religion affects daily life. The segue between the two is a long poem entitled “Chronicles” which is composed of the first and last verses of books of the Old Testament, pieced together to tell their own story much as believers use passages, often out of context, to support their beliefs.