Beneath the terrible surface

Jenny Kristine Lagergren
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:45:24 PDT

'Beneath the terrible surface' is concerned with connections among people, animals, objects, and land that are important, but subtle and often overlooked. The poems are concrete and find meaning through a moment slowed downed and viewed from a new angle, which ultimately conveys emotion. While moments are described, the goal is not description, but exploration. A point in time becomes important by what happens or does not happen and by what is noticed and felt by the speakers and characters. Though not always positive, they detail an awareness of the intricate, important and sometimes invisible connections between many forms of life. The collection contemplates what it takes to love a landscape, appreciate animals, and notice, react, and care for life that does not lend itself to immediate liking.