“Elevation, ” a Poem by Lindsay Turner
We drove up the mountain at night. Something was wrong.
The poem Elevation by Lindsay Turner is a short, evocative piece from her 2026 poetry collection Middle Slope, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The poem describes a drive up a mountain at night and during the day, highlighting a sense of unease and discomfort in the environment. The imagery includes a miasma—a term referring to a thick, foul-smelling vapor or atmosphere—and references to industrial chicken farms, waterfalls, and foggy roads. The poem captures a mood of subtle discontent, suggesting that something is inherently wrong, even in places meant for relaxation or beauty. Turner’s work often explores themes of landscape and human presence, and this poem reflects that focus by blending natural and man-made elements to create a sense of tension.
Elevation revolves around several interconnected themes. The first is environmental unease, as the poem describes the stench of chicken farms and the artificiality of recreational spaces like waterfalls, which are framed as overcrowded and polluted. The term miasma is used twice to emphasize the oppressive, unhealthy atmosphere, both literally and metaphorically. Another theme is human discontent, illustrated by lines like Unhappy, the women have bought too much again and The discontent, humid and chirping, which suggest a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction in modern life. The poem also touches on the contrast between nature and human interference, as seen in the description of the waterfall’s spray becoming particulate, implying pollution. These themes reflect Turner’s broader interest in how human activity disrupts natural spaces.
Lindsay Turner is an established poet and translator, known for her collections The Upstate and Songs & Ballads. Her work often examines place, identity, and the tension between nature and human development. Elevation is part of her 2026 collection Middle Slope, which explores the Appalachian region of the United States, where Turner grew up. The poem’s focus on industrialization, environmental decay, and human behavior aligns with her broader literary concerns. The title Elevation may refer to both physical height (the mountain drive) and metaphorical elevation, such as social or emotional uplift, though the poem ultimately leans toward a sense of stagnation or decline. The poem’s brevity and fragmented style are characteristic of contemporary poetry, where meaning is often conveyed through vivid imagery and subtle emotional cues.
Turner employs several poetic techniques to convey her themes. The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not follow a strict meter or rhyme scheme, allowing for a more natural, conversational tone. The repetition of the phrase *Something was wrong* creates a sense of foreboding and reinforces the poem’s central tension. The use of sensory language, such as *stink*, *spray, particulate*, and *humid and chirping*, immerses the reader in the poem’s atmosphere. The poem also employs enjambment, where lines flow into one another without punctuation, creating a sense of continuity and unease. The final lines, *Oncoming lights in fog out on the road, then nothing*, suggest a sudden, unresolved ending, leaving the reader with a feeling of ambiguity and lingering discomfort.
