He received the American Book Award in 1984 for The Mama Poems . In the Time of the Present Maurice Kenny Read a review of this book. 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.
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. His voice long ago achieved warmth, humility, and ind ispensable authenticity.