For Jessica Jones, poetry is more than an art form; it's a way of life.

The Baldwin County poet's latest collection, "Naked Young Woman in Front of the Mirror," was released in December by Negative Capability Press, offering readers an intimate look at life's most profound moments.

"My inspiration for 'Naked Young Woman in Front of the Mirror' has been brewing throughout my life," Jones said. "For one, I have an insatiable appetite for life. I feed my passions for travel, art, food, wine and poetry. I also have a fascination with the phases of life we experience, as humans, and with personal experiences, too."

The collection, praised by literary leaders, explores universal themes of love, loss and self-discovery through Jones' Southern lens. Alabama Poet Laureate Ashley M. Jones described the poems as "spirited verse which embodies childlike wonder and deep sensory experience tied to memory and nature." Charlotte Pence, Mobile's inaugural poet laureate, called it "a stunning achievement" that invites readers to remember why we come to poetry: "to slow down, to witness and, ultimately, to honor what we have loved and what we keep loving."

For Jones, who began writing short stories at 6 and poetry at 14, the collection reflects both her personal journey and her broader worldview.

"I have endured the frustration of childhood, where I often felt seen and not heard. I've battled the feelings of insecurity, body image and other traumas that teenage years bring. I have experienced the ecstasy of love, the burning abyss of anger and the deep pain of longing for deceased family and friends," Jones told Gulf Coast Media. "Writing poetry is cathartic for me. It helps me celebrate some of those feelings and process others."

Born in Mobile and raised in Baldwin County since the age of 4, Jones draws much of her inspiration from her Southern roots. She describes the region as "beautiful and complicated and peaceful and wildly diverse," with its white sand beaches, live oaks draped in Spanish moss and rich history.

"This place is my home," she said. "I think being Southern is a big part of my writing — there's a seeming trauma that flows in our red clay soil. It feels like a lingering pain from our troubled past. I read a lot of literature about the Civil Rights Movement in college, and I think those stories and events have really stuck with me. It's painful to see people hurt each other. I'm the kind of person who just naturally loves every stranger I meet, and I think the world's cruelty requires a long, hard look, honesty and lots of tears."

Jones' connection to Baldwin County runs deep, which can be seen in this newest work.

"The house I grew up in was built in 1896. I have written several poems and a play about Hodgson House in Stockton," she said.

Jones' poetry taps into a personal introspection that is enjoyable to read. My favorites to read, many of which I felt the need to sit with and come back to several times, were "What's In A Name," "White Knight," "Naturally More," "She Vanishes" and "Bodies of Water." However, "Somewhere Inside" is like a beautiful autobiography wrapped in layers of poetic voice and Southern imagery.

"I'm from notes of Dolly Parton,
Kenny Rogers
from people who believe
that no dream is impossible," Jones says in the poem.

Jones' literary career spans more than a decade. After earning a bachelor's degree in English and a master's in creative writing from the University of South Alabama, she published her first poetry collection in 2009. Her work has appeared in publications such as the "Birmingham Arts Journal," "Oracle Fine Arts Review" and "Whatever Remembers Us: An Anthology of Alabama Poetry." Her accolades include the Shelley Memorial Scholarship and recognition from the Alabama State Poetry Society and Poets and Patrons Chicagoland.

Beyond her writing, Jones is dedicated to fostering a love of literature in others. As president of the Alabama Writers' Cooperative (AWC), she leads initiatives to support writers across the state. The organization hosts free Zoom workshops throughout the year and will hold its annual conference in Orange Beach in September.

"We're always looking for new voices and perspectives," she said.

Poets and writes who are interested in joining AWC should visit https://alabamawriterscooperative.org/.
For Jones, poetry is as much about connection as it is about self-expression. She said she has "always felt the urge to express myself. It wells up within me and flows out, almost on its own. I think it's vastly important to share a unique perspective with the world. I like to offer a different viewpoint and help bridge the gaps in language and communication.

"We've got so many beautiful words at our disposal — it seems a shame not to use them."

Her work often bridges the personal and the universal, inviting readers to slow down and reflect on their own experiences. Jennifer Horne, Alabama poet laureate from 2017 to 2021, praised Jones' ability to evoke powerful emotions through imagery and song-like lines.

"These poems allow us inside a psyche who loves this abundant world even through tears," Horne said, "who beckons us with words that leap, twirl, seduce, soothe, challenge and affirm."