About Jesus Comes To Me As Judy Garland

Jesus Comes to Me as Judy Garland explores themes of sexual orientation, spirituality, family, and aging, often using smart humor and sharp observation. These poems are much like the old Cadillacs that Pickering clearly loves, big and powerful and roomy, and they are full of interesting companions kibitzing in the back seat—Bette Davis, Bob Ross, Judy Garland, Lucille Clifton, Marlene Dietrich, Vincent Van Gogh, and yes, Jesus.

This collection is an affirmation of spirit and the variety of ways it manifests in the contemporary world. While these poems sometimes navigate dark and complex territories, Pickering is a confident driver, and the reader always feels safe riding shotgun in the front seat. So, settle into the leather-trimmed aqua brocade… and step on it. You’re going for a ride.

Advance Praise

I’m moonstruck—or should I say starstruck, like the devotee of a golden-age Hollywood star—by the bright and shining poetry brilliance that dazzles every page in David Pickering’s debut collection, Jesus Comes to Me as Judy Garland.
— Nancy Flynn, author of Every Door Recklessly Ajar

From the irreverent and insightful Jesus Comes visitations to the wryly nostalgic memories of beachcombing and uncensored family portraits (you’ll love Mom in that Cadillac), this book is a carnival delight.
— Henry Hughes, Oregon Book Award-winning poet and author of Back Seat with Fish

What pain appears in this collection is made bearable by delightfully intelligent humor, confident craftsmanship, and a wild, generous take on Jesus.
— Marjorie Power, author of Sufficient Emptiness