Too Jagged to Hold - Paperback

Too Jagged to Hold is a powerful and intimate poetry collection tracing the long, spiraling path of recovery after sexual violence. With vivid imagery and lyrical clarity, Kristen Hornung writes about dissociation, complex PTSD, grief, attachment, relationships, and the slow, alchemical process of healing.

These poems draw the reader into the paradox of life after trauma: where self-protection meets vulnerability, despair gives way to resilience, and even the sharpest edges can become sites of connection.

Hornung offers no easy resolution; instead, this collection gives presence, honesty, and understanding. Perfect for readers of trauma poetry, healing poetry, poems about recovery, and women's confessional poetry, it is a companion for anyone asking themselves, Am I healed yet?

"Hornung's brave, unabashed debut is an exploration of 'the tension between holding on and letting go, ' especially as this relates to trauma and the experience of living with it." - BookLife Reviews

"Hornung's writing is visceral and evocative, from descriptions of 'the stench of / sour sweat, rotting leaves' to 'blood-warm water.' 'The Spiral' artfully conveys the cyclical nature of growth through the metaphor of a spiral staircase, with the speaker navigating 'between your memories and / the truth, who you were / and who you are, / and who you've / longed to be.'" - Kirkus Reviews