Poetry
Artist Statement
Healing is an intimate, sometimes circuitous pursuit with no end destination. It's a lifelong journey that pushes pieces of oneself to the forefront to confront life's deepest fears, secrets, and pains on the way to victorious epiphanies or understandings.
My poetic writing seeks to highlight the stops along this voyage: recognition, rage, pain, empathy, love, joy and more, spurred by spending time in nature, or ecotherapy, experiencing new cultures and food through travel, and the consumption of art. Running long paths through woods both near and far, practicing yoga on sandy shores, or planting new gardens have made space for the cultivation of forgiveness and the birth of new, literary art.
I have had some of my best conversations with God in the forest.
I have had some of my best conversations with God in the forest.
The Wounded Forest
Poetry Book - Coming fall 2026
What happens when you take your grief into the forest and let nature hold it? The Wounded Forest is a collection of poems born from years of running wooded trails, planting gardens, and learning to let go. It is a book about loss, healing, and the quiet renewal that grows when you stop looking for it.
A Forest of Faith Publishing
A reading from the upcoming poetry book, “The Wounded Forest”
The Gathering: An Interactive Exhibition of Nature-Centered Poetry and Photography
Displayed May 7-31, 2023, at the Midway Artist Studios as part of "Sad and..." a collection of work by the 2023 Dunamis Emerging Artist Fellows.
This collection of work highlights several years of a continuous healing journey that started with journaling, running, traveling, and writing poetry. It's inspired by time in nature, or ecotherapy, the practice of being in nature to boost growth and healing, especially mental health.
In nature, growth is visually evident. Trees grow taller, and plants, leaning toward the sun, typically show new foliage that's brighter in color or shinier than its existing leaves. For people, though, internal evolution doesn't always put on an exterior show. And sometimes, it's so slow and subtle that the changes might not be noticeable at first. This offering highlights where I've been and who I am now on this voyage of lifelong growth.
In addition to Jacquinn's poetic and photographic work, the exhibition included contributions from poets Marie F. Celestin, Emily Li, and Shelley Polanco, who responded to a call for stories about how nature has helped heal others.
"The Gathering" is the first phase of a larger project exploring nature's healing power. The second phase included community writing activations at JP Porchfest Litporch, where community members responded to prompts. Their voices will carry forward into the launch of The Wounded Forest.
Let's Work Together
Looking for a writer, speaker, or collaborator? I'd love to hear about your project.