Singing Under Snow

by Anne Haven McDonnell

These are poems of queer ecology—poetry that “exults in the grit and texture of the natural world, in the unassuming and overlooked wonders beneath our feet and beyond our doors—in lichen and snow, in martens and mushrooms.” In reckoning with a mother’s aging, a breakup, or grief and disorientation in the face of the climate crisis, these poems seek a spiritual meaning in ecological belonging. Central to the collection is a series of poems exploring science, ceremony, and personal encounters with fungi. Fungi and lichen blur what we consider biological, what we think of as an individual, and how we understand death, and these poems reflect this complexity through imagery, juxtaposition, leaps of imagination, and sonic spells.
 

132 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2026

Reviews

[Renee Godding · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I alwas feel the way my own fuzzy ancestry, my breezy white walking,
leaves me lonely. Like lichen,
I is really we,
and there are so many gone from me."

There's something truly special about poetry that resonates with you as a reader, and Singing Under Snow had that effect on me. "Healing through nature" has been a theme that's on my mind lately, and this collection of queer poems fits beautifully into that little niche.
Through imagery of forests, lichen, mushrooms and cycles of (natural) life, Anne Haven McDonnell explores grief, (queer) identity and belonging.

The poems fall in the category of modern poetry and don't follow a traditional rhyme or metrum. That being said; flow and rhythm are important elements for me to enjoy a poem, and I loved the cadance that this collection carried throughout. The collection flows throughout in a way that carried me towards the end, continuing for one more poem before bed every night...
My personal favourite poems include:
- Moraine
- Whale Breath
- Heat Wave
- When the End is Near

I'd recommend this collection for poetry-readers with an interest in eco-poetry or the exploration of human emotions through natural imagery.
Many thanks to Wheelbarrow Books and Michigan State University Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Anastey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Haven McDonnell for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a lovely book of poetry!

I loved the winter vibe where everything holding it's breath, waiting for something to happen, and the crunch of ice. It also delves deep into harshness of the cycle of life. It's beauty, pain, and loss.

It's very lyrical and flowed very nicely. I can picture all the animals and things in nature that show up on the pages. It's always interesting to see where nature and queerness overlap too. My favorite parts are all the different kinds of fungi. I adore mushrooms, lichen, and moss so much.

Overall this was a fantastic, and deeply emotional read.

[Rhiley Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I was going to love this from the very first poem and I did, from start to finish.
Every poem was a song and a love letter to Mother Nature, to premeditative grief, and to heritage. A stunning, outspoken collection that will leave you breathless and highlighting passages on every page. I was awestruck. I loved it. Not only because I related to it so desperately but also because it is universally relatable and simply stunning to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.