The Mama Poems

by Maurice Kenny

“The world [Maurice] Kenny opens for us is personal, yet never sentimental. It is a world in which long-dead relatives can appear when they are needed; in which the drum sounds in rituals of curing; a world vibrant with the natural landscape.”—Joseph Bruchac, Small Press Review

In conjunction with the publication of Connotations, we are pleased to release a new edition of American Book Award–winner Maurice Kenny’s The Mama Poems, a cycle of poems centered on the life of Kenny’s late mother.

Maurice Kenny is one of the major voices of Native American letters. His books of poetry include Tekonwatonti: Molly Brant and Carving Hawk.

Paperback

First published October 1, 1983

About the author

Maurice Kenny, Mohawk, was born in Watertown, NY. His work has been published in almost 100 journals, including special issues, especially on Native American writing.

In 2000, Maurice received the Elder Recognition Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers. In 1996 On Second Thought was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award in fiction.

Maurice's book of poems, Blackrobe : Isaac Jogues, B. March 11, 1607, D. October 18, 1646, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, as was Between Two Rivers. He is the recipient of a National Public Radio Award for Broadcasting. His book The Mama Poems received the American Book Award in 1984. The Bloomsbury Review cited Wounds Beneath the Flesh as the best anthology of 1983.