This week on The Write Question, host Lauren Korn interviews Haudenosaunee poet Kenzie Allen, author of Cloud Missives (Tin House Books), a poetry collection focused on self-exploration and renewal. In her work, Allen delves into what remains after tragedy and survival, examining the endurance of the human spirit. Through four sections, her poems address a range of topics, including pop culture stereotypes found in Peter Pan and Indiana Jones, fairy tales, myths, protests, and forgotten histories. The collection culminates in a powerful series of love poems that deepen our understanding of romantic, platonic, and communal love.
Cloud Missives is both a celebration and a critique. It reflects on the body, identity, and the process of remaking oneself. The collection also poses important questions: How can Indigenous personhood be reimagined in the wake of colonialism? What does healing look like when we learn to love the world around us? Allen introduces readers to a fresh, profound voice in contemporary poetry.
This conversation was organized in collaboration with the Headwaters Reading Series for Health and Well-Being, which aims to highlight underrepresented voices while fostering discussions on important but often overlooked issues. Topics include Native American well-being, mental health, and disability.
