In the Time of the Present (Native American

by Maurice Kenny

This new collection of poetry from Maurice Kenny explores identity, honors nature, and celebrates everyday life. Modern life is described, while Native American culture is glimpsed, ghost-like, on the margins. Natural bounty-flowers, fruits-is extolled and welcomed. The simplest things-the arrival of the first blueberries or a field of dandelions-are praised with gratitude. Friendships, letters, love lost and found are all treated with reverence and delicacy. Spirituality as a way of life, respect for nature, sharing with others within an extended family, living in the present-these traditional Native values are represented in Kenny's work. These poems are the essence of a Native American way of life.

131 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2000

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.