Jacqueline Jones LaMon is the Associate Director of the Indiana University Writers' Conference. A Chancellor's University Fellow and an associate poetry editor of the Indiana Review, she is in her third year of her MFA studies in poetry at Indiana University Bloomington. Her poetry has appeared/will appear in Crab Orchard Review, Natural Bridge, Fugue, and WarpLand among other journals. Her first novel, In the Arms of One Who Loves Me, was published by One World/Ballantine Books in 2002. (2005)
 Gravity, U.S.A.
Amazon
Paperback: 80 pages Jacqueline Jones LaMon's collection of poetry, Gravity,
U.S.A., is the 2005 recipient of the Quercus Review Poetry
Series Annual Book Award. |
In The Arms of One Who Loves Me
Amazon
Hardcover: 288
pages
Publisher: One World/Ballantine (June 25, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345447190
From fabulous new author Jacqueline Jones LaMon, a sexy page-turner
that follows the lives of two young, black professionals as they
navigate career and romance, ambition and heartbreak. Two paths that
meet by serendipity.
Nia Benson, a college graduate who dreams someday of running her own
public relations firm, believes the world is her oyster. But Nia runs up
against the harsh realities of corporate life and office politics when
she is fired from a job she loves. For someone who has always had a plan
and a purpose, Nia feels suddenly adrift, questioning her aspirations
and sense of self. It doesn't help her state of mind when Nia learns her
long-time love is seeing someone else. She finds emotional release,
however, in an unexpected place.
Seth Jackson is trying to make his way in the cutthroat music industry.
After years of chasing one woman after another, he is finally ready to
settle down. When he meets the mysterious, captivating Lauren at his
best friend's wedding, Seth falls hard and fast. He has no doubt: Here
is the woman with whom he is destined to spend the rest of his life.
Until a twist of fate and painful secrets threaten to tear them apart.
Facing the collapse of all that they believe in, Nia and Seth set out on
separate journeys to find themselves. Along the way, their paths will
criss then cross, through tears and laughter, as they uncover deep
truths about who they are, what they need, and where their hearts really
belong.
Ms. LaMon is also a poet
featured on the AALBC's Poets Page and Virtual Poetry Reading
She has also reviewed several books for the web site: http://aalbc.com/reviews/jacqueli.htm
jaci is also featured on the AALBC's "Virtual Poetry Reading" and is a regular
contributor to AALBC.com reviews and commentary
section
Read three poems by jaci; (1) in the arms of
one who loves me, (2) vistation and (3) "en route"
in the
arms of one who loves me
for so very long
i have taken those
good intentions
and placed them in my heart
protected your visions
and given them shelter
a sacred place
after all
that is what you thought
and
you should know
never questioning
never halting the image
accepting your could be
as truth
i was enveloped
postmarked
and almost mailed
ready to be delivered
and opened
a letter bomb in the making
the demise of my me-ness
but now
i thankfully stand in my sacredness
surrounded by the arms of
The Most High
My Father
My Creator
My Lord
shake my head and say
gurl how could you have gone there
and stayed for so long
i see beyond the stripes on my spirit
the bruises on my blessings
the scabs on my ego
the scars on my memory
i see beyond the tears in my reflection
and whisper to that woman there
gurl you need a poem bad
and laugh
give myself one good loving hug
and know
that finally
and at long last
i am
in the arms of one who loves me.
visitation
my baby reached out for you once
snuggled in your comfort zone
looked up at you and smiled
she still calls you daddy
you know
looks out on the patio
wet from rain
and listens for your footsteps
is he coming today, mommy?
do you think he forgot?
are you sure he still loves me?
i set down my Miller’s
and pick up her heart
dried over
from simply too much expectation
and not enough
fulfillment
and search her eyes
for a place to connect soul to soul
sistah space to sistah space
so that i do not have to
articulate it all
just let it ooze from the depths of my being
to the wading pool of her dreams
it will be alright baby
well
she doesn’t cry as much anymore
we take turns
and it’s my turn now
baby know the drill
so she climbs on my mommy lap
gives me a great big six year old hug
pats my face and whispers
mommy...
mommy??
mommy!!
it will be alright.
"en route"
it's coming to me
coming to me in waves of
sumani
understanding
everything around us
all which we encounter
every note we hear
every rhyme we internalize
every breath expelled on a
chilled
windowed
view
of
life
is here
to teach us something
here to bring us back to
You
i stand around and watch them
calling on Your Son
calling on Your Son
calling on Your Son
Redeemer
Savior
come to bring us home
i want to feel the
loving arms
i want to taste
the honeyed nectar of forgiveness
i want to inhale
the scent of a brand new blessed day
i want to come home
and
then they leave
the building
the blessing
the very reason
for being
and go to their cars
yet to cut someone off
on the on ramp
it too is my lesson
as i learn to breathe
and make my life a living prayer.
copyright 1998 jaci all rights reserved.
1999 bio: Jacqueline Jones LaMon is a writer and poet residing in Southern California. Her work has appeared in various publications including the Los Angeles Sentinel, Black Issues Book Review, Rhapsody in Black, and The Drumming Between Us.
A frequent lecturer and workshop leader, Ms. LaMon is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the UCLA School of Law. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at California State University Consortium.
Jacqueline is nearing completion of her first novel, In The Arms of One Who Loves Me. (For all those desiring clarification, “nearing completion” means that she has reached her seventy-third rewrite and is beginning to gather the names and addresses of literary agents of excellence.)
