“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 .