Work

books

• Cloud Missives, a poetry collection forthcoming from Tin House in Summer 2024.

poems

• “Convergent Evolution.” The Rumpus‘ National Poetry Month Feature; April 4th, 2023.
• “Sahalie Falls.” Sierra magazine, Spring 2023 issue.
• “Even the word Oneida / can’t be written in Oneida.” Bellingham Review, Spring 2023, as winner of the 2022 49th Parallel Award.
• “Oskʌnu‧tú,” reprinted in Infinite Constellations: an anthology of identity, culture, and speculative conjunctions, edited by Khadijah Queen and K. Ibura. Print.
• “Quiet as Thunderbolts.” Best New Poets 2022, selected by Paula Bohince. Print.
• “Wisconsin in the Golden Hour.” Under a Warm Green Linden, Issue 14, Indigenous Ecopoetry feature edited by Beatrice Szymkowiak, Dec 21, 2022.
• “109 Bermuda,” Academy of American Poets’ (Poets.org) Poem-A-Day, November 22, 2022, with audio.
• “In Which I Agree to a Selective Reduction Consult in Case of Medical Risk,” “In Which I’m Told I Have Many,” and “–In Which We Begin, Again.” Radar Poetry, October 15, 2022, with audio. Coniston Prize finalist.
• “End of the Trail.” POETRY Magazine, September 2022.
• “Tettsted,” Zócalo Public Square. July 1, 2022, Online.
• “Photosynthesis,” and “Smultronstället.” The Poets’ Republic, issue 10 Winter 2021/2022. Print.
• “Oskʌnu‧tú.” Poetry Northwest, Vol. 16 No. 2, Summer & Fall 2021. Print.
• “Quiet as Thunderbolts.” The Paris Review Daily, June 25, 2021. Online.
• “Red Woman.” Embodied: An Intersectional Feminist Comics Poetry Anthology, May 2021. Print.
• “But We Are Still Here,” reprinted in Bettering American Poetry vol. III, September 2019. Print.
• “With Thirteen Moons On Your Back.” Type Hike’s Alphabeast: a book of poems, poetry and typography anthology, June 2019. Print.
• “Solkatt,” and “Tidsoptimist.” Black Warrior Review, Issue 44.2, Spring/Summer 2018, featured. Print.
• “Shadowboxes.” Saw Palm, Issue 12, Spring 2018. Print. Nominated for Best New Poets 2018.
• “Particular Bees.” Grist Journal, Issue 11, Spring 2018. Print.
• “But We Are Still Here.” 92 Street Y’s A New Colossus festival, July 2017, with audio. Selected for Bettering American Poetry Volume 3, 2018. Online.
• “Whatever Is The Matter.” Narrative Magazine Poem of the Week, May 18, 2017. Online.
• “Love Song to The Man Announcing Pow Wows & Rodeos,” Narrative Magazine, Winter 2017 Issue. Online.
• “Stavanger,” and “Nordlys.” The Swamp, Issue 2, Winter 2016. Print.
• “How to Be A Real Indian,” Narrative Magazine Poem of the Week, Oct 17, 2016. Online. Selected for Top 5 Poems of the Week 2015-2016.
• “When I Say I Love You, This Is What I Mean.” The Adroit Journal Issue 20, March 2017. Online, with audio.
• “Lamesa,” “San Angelo,” “Odessa (Neon Moon),” and three Texas photographs. The Swamp, Issue 1, Summer 2016. Online.
• “Indian Country.” Slice, Issue #19, Fall 2016. Print.
• “Letters I Don’t Send #4,” and “Light Pollution.” Cleaver, Issue 14, June 2016. Online.
• “Psychomanteum.” Indiana Review, Vol 38 / #1, Ghost Issue, Summer 2016. Print.
• “Letters I Don’t Send #3.” Iron Horse Literary Review 18.2 NaPoMo Issue, Spring 2016. Print, with interview.
• “Token” and “How The Skin Bruises If You Lie There Long Enough.” Boston Review, April 2016. Online. Finalist, Boston Review Annual Poetry Contest. Featured in Top 25 Poems of the Year 2016.
• “In Which I Become (Tiger Lily),” reprinted in Best New Poets 2016, selected by Mary Szybist. Print.
• “Lubbock.” Deep South Magazine, “Southern Voice,” April 2016. Online.
• “Burkburnett.” Lines + Stars, Spring 2016. Online.
• “Cradleboard” and “The Only Good Indian Is a Dead Dead Dead Dead Indian,” reprinted in Sundress Publications’ Political Punch anthology, spring 2016. Print.
• “Sails Like White Clouds,” “Beat Me To Grandma’s, I Dare You,” and “Waadookodaading Drum….” TheThe Poetry Blog’s Infoxicated Corner Spotlight Series, January 2016. Online, with interview. “Beat Me to Grandma’s, I Dare You” nominated for Sundress’ Best of the Net 2016.
• “Meredith.” Midwestern Gothic, reprinted in Issue 20, Midwinter 2016. Print.
• “Cavity.” Cactus Heart, Issue 14.5: Bodies, Winter 2015/2016. Print.
• “Draw the Human Form.” Blue Earth Review, Issue 15, Fall 2015. Print.
• “Norway.” Tahoma Literary Review, Issue 5 (Vol II Number III), November 2015. Print & Digital.
• “How Do We Always End Up At The Same Parties II,” and “Orange Moon Over Johnson.” Hermeneutic Chaos, November 2015. Online, with audio. “Orange Moon Over Johnson” nominated for Sundress’ Best of the Net 2016.
• “Fibonacci,” “Fistful of Emilys,” and “Ribbons.” Horse Less Review #18, October 2015. Online, with audio.
• “Palpitations and Seizures.” Contrary, Autumn 2015. Nominated for Sundress’ Best of the Net 2016. Online/print.
• “Letters I Don’t Send #1,” “Letters I Don’t Send #2,” and “Letters I Don’t Send #7,” The Boiler, Issue XVII, Fall 2015. Online.
• “According to Science.” Really System, Volume 8, Fall 2015. Online.
• “Letters I Don’t Send #6,” and “Precordial Catch.” Rogue Agent, Issues 6 and 7, September and October 2015. Online.
• “The Grand Canyon Opens Its Legs Wide.” Noble / Gas Qtrly, Issue 202.3, August 2015. Online.
• “In Which I Become (Tiger Lily).” Four Winds Magazine: Issue 3; Strong Women Edition, or, “Taking Back Tiger Lily.” Online. Selected for Best New Poets 2016.
• “Prayer To The Last Time You Walked Out On Me In A Bar.” Rabbit and Rose, Issue 7. Online.
• “Dress Like Pocahontas, Then Let’s Make Love.” DIALOGIST, Vol. II, Issue IV. Online, with audio. Nominated for Sundress’ Best of the Net 2015.
• “You Tell Me Where We’re Headed,” and “Everyone Loves A Beautiful Ironing Board.” Tinderbox Poetry Journal, Volume II, Issue I, June 2015. Online.
• “When Does That Happen.” Thank You For Swallowing: Women’s Protest Poetry, June 16, 2015. Online. Nominated for Sundress’ Best of the Net 2015.
• “West 46th Between 9 and 10.” Santa Ana River Review, Volume 11, Issue 2, Spring 2015. Online.
• “Solgangsbris.” The Offing, March 2015. Online, with photograph.
• “I Don’t Know The Words But This Is My Anthem.” BOAAT PRESS, Vol 4, March 2015. Online.
• “Letters I Don’t Send #5,” “Sometimes The Dreams Make Me Angry,” “While You Were Away,” and “Ask Me How It Happened.” SOFTBLOW, April 2015. Online.
• “The Only Good Indian Is A Dead Dead Dead Dead Indian,” “Even Hiawatha, Even This Poem,” and “Meredith,” Kweli, issue guest edited by Danielle Evans, December 22, 2014. Online, with photographs.
• “Remnants,” “The Time Machine,” and “Why Cats Paint.” HAD, December 18,2014. Online.
• “Cradleboard” and “Illiterate.” Drunken Boat, Issue 20, Affrilachian Arts Folio. Online, with photograph.
• “Repatriation.” The Puritan, Issue 27, 2014. Finalist, Thomas Morton Memorial Poetry Prize. Online, with audio.
• “Foundational” and “Determination of Racial Affinity.” Apogee, Issue IV, December 2014. Online.
• “Nuomenons.” Rust + Moth, Autumn 2014 issue. Online/print.
• “Ann Arbor Venus Walks Into A Bar.” Day One. June 18, 2014. Kindle. Anthologized in Day One, Year One: Best New Stories & Poems 2014, Little A press, November 5, 2014. Print.
• “Palm Reader, Fifth Avenue.” Word Riot. April 2014. Broadside produced by Littoral Press, as winner of the Littoral Press Poetry Prize 2014. Online.
• “Pathology” and “Forensics.” The Iowa Review, Winter 2013/2014. Print. Finalist, The Iowa Review Awards, 2014.
• “Sweetwater” and “Big Spring,” Sonora Review, March 2013, vol. 63. Print.
• “Dust Mother, Namegiver,” “Cloud-splitter,” and “I Knew a Girl Who Roosted In Airports,” Yukhika-latuhse, Issue 7, 2013. Oneida Nation Arts Program. Print.

essays & memoir

• “The Price of Entry, the Failure of Boundary.” Apogee Journal‘s “TO BECOME LOUDER, EVEN STILL”: Responses to Sexual Violence in Literary Spaces. April 2016. Online.
• “Tiger Lily Teaches, Part II: Re-appropriation and Artistic Domain.” Four Winds Magazine, Issue 3; Strong Women Edition, or “Taking Back Tiger Lily,” Summer 2015. Online.
• “About Grief.” Anthropoid. Issue 1: Fauna; staff writing, December 2014. Online.
• “A Care Package.” Matter: a Journal of Political Poetry and Commentary. Issue 9, October 2014, guest edited by Cecilia Llompart. Online. Excerpt from memoir.
• “What Tiger Lily Can Teach Us About Cultural Appropriation.” Atticus Review Publishers’ Desk, for the Dangerous Ideas column. July 3, 2014. Online.

academic articles

• “Poetry as a Gathering Space: a review of Molly McGlennen’s Creative Alliances: The Transnational Designs of Indigenous Women’s Poetry,” Studies in American Indian Literature, 30.3-4 Fall-Winter 2018, Print.

exhibitions / visual

• “Water Basket,” visual poetry sculpture. “Art of the Native Peoples” exhibition, Galena Center for the Arts, Galena, IL, Oct 2018 – Jan 2019.
• “I Wrote You Poems Across Texas,” photographs. “PHOTOGRAPHY NOW!” exhibition, hosted by Ozier Muhammad, Kweli Journal International Literary Festival, Raw Space Gallery, Harlem, NY, May 2018.
• “Water Basket,” visual poetry sculpture. “(About that) Water Is Life” exhibition, presented by Heid. E. Erdrich, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Summer 2017.

opera & lyric

• “Letters I Don’t Send,” new music libretto, composed by Dylan Arthur Baker for the Black House Collective’s 2015 New Music Workshop in Kansas City, MO.
• “Who Married Star Husbands” chamber opera libretto, composed by Shuying Li for Vocalypse’s Opera From Scratch in Nova Scotia, for two sopranos, baritone and piano, Spring 2014. Additional Performances: Composers Conference (Wellesley College, 2015), Midwest Composer’s Symposium (2017), “New in November” (Hartford Opera Theater, 2018).
• “New Episodes,” art song, composed by Shuying Li. Performed at University of Michigan’s Word Up! Concert, April 20th, 2014.
• “LIKE, the opera,” libretto & animation, composed by Dylan Arthur Baker, for soprano, alto and baritone, utilizing overhead projection screen for animation of accompanying social media meta-commentary and digital audiovisuals. Performed at University of Michigan’s “Words & Music” workshop, Spring 2014.
• “The Opera Singer,” opera scene, composed by Dylan Arthur Baker, for soprano and baritone. Performed by Natasha Drake at University of Michigan’s “Words & Music” workshop, Spring 2014.
• “Mein Mädchen,” an aria, composed by Daniel Sottile, for soprano and celesta. Performed by Natasha Drake at University of Michigan’s “Words & Music” workshop, Spring 2014.

conferences & presentations

• “In-Na-Poets and En-treaties: Writing Indigenous—What Does it Mean Now?,” panel member, Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Annual Conference, Seattle, WA; March 2023.
• “Mapping Wampum: Storytelling & Sovereignty in Indigenous Poetry,” craft talk & poetry reading / research presentation, Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages (CIKL) at York University, Toronto, ON; Sept 26, 2022.
• “Indigenous Storytelling & Poetics: Strategies for Writing Histories,” panel member, Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA; March 2022.
• “Native American Storytelling & Poetry: Writing into New Vocabularies,” presentation. Indigenous International Exchange Program hosted by York University, online; Oct 27, 2021.
• “Wampum: a multimodal book of poetry and ethnographic memoir,” creative works presentation. NAISA annual conference, Online/Remote; June 2021.
• “The Role of Superheroes in an Age of Fascism and Authoritarianism” and “Asian American Superhero Characters and Creators,” panel member. DePaul Pop Culture Conference: Superheroes Edition; Chicago, IL, May 2020, abstract accepted. Conference cancelled.
• “‘Good Words’: Alternative Storytelling Methods in Indigenous Poetry,” paper presentation. NAISA annual conference, Toronto, Canada; May 2020, abstract accepted. Conference cancelled.
• “Native Waves: A Craft Talk on the State of Contemporary Aesthetics of Native American Writing,” with Erika T. Wurth, and David Weiden. Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, VT; March 2020.
• “Good Words: Traumatic Source Materials and the Researcher’s Affect in Indigenous Creative Ethnography,” presentation and talk. Affect Theory & Praxis: Transdisciplinary Methodologies workshop, Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Fall 2018.
• “Works in Progress. Writers on Process.” panel & reading of photo-memoir, Kweli Journal International Literary Festival, New York, NY; Summer 2018. Moderated by Cecca Ochoa.
• “Why Start A Literary Magazine,” panel member. Association of Writers & Writing Programs Annual Conference, Tampa Bay, FL; 2018.
• “Discarding the Cloak of Invisibility: A Candid Look at the Whitewashing in the Potterverse,” panel member. Harry Potter and the Pop Culture Conference, DePaul University, Chicago, IL; 2017.
• “Writing as Refugees: Collective Trauma & Impossible Return,” panel member. Association of Writers & Writing Programs Annual Conference, Washington D.C.; 2017.
• “Facebook and the MFA Admissions Process,” panel member. Association of Writers & Writing Programs Annual Conference, Chicago, IL; 2013.

awards & residencies

• Semifinalist, Beloit Poetry Journal‘s Chad Walsh Chapbook Series, for Dear, 2023.
• Sundress Publications’ Broadside Contest, 2023.
• Elizabeth Murray Artists Residency, Summer 2023.
• Hedgebrook Residency recipient, Summer/Fall 2023
• nominee, Pushcart Prizes, via Radar Poetry, “In Which I Am Told I Have Many”
• Finalist, Coniston Prize from Radar Poetry (2022).
• Best New Poets 2022. “Quiet as Thunderbolts,” selected by Paula Bohince.
• Finalist, National Poetry Series, for Cloud Missives (2022)
• The 49th Parallel Award in Poetry – Bellingham Review (2022)
• James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets – Poetry Northwest & In-Na-Po (2021)
• “Discovery” Joan Leiman Jacobson Poetry Prize – 92NY Unterberg Poetry Center (2021)
• English Department Poetry Prize – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2019)
• nominee, Best New Poets 2018, via Saw Palm, “Shadowboxes.”
• 30 Below 30 in Narrative, for “How to Be A Real Indian,” 2017.
• Best New Poets 2016. “In Which I Become (Tiger Lily)” selected by Mary Szybist.
• Top 25 Poems of the Year 2016 in Boston Review, for “Token” and “How the Skin Bruises If You Lie There Long Enough.”
• Top 5 Poem of the Week 2015-2016 in Narrative, for “How to Be A Real Indian.”
• nominee, Sundress Publications’ Best of the Net 2016 anthology, via Hermeneutic Chaos, “Orange Moon Over Johnson.”
• nominee, Sundress Publications’ Best of the Net 2016 anthology, via Contrary, “Palpitations & Seizures.”
• nominee, Sundress Publications’ Best of the Net 2016 anthology, via TheThe Poetry Blog, “Beat Me To Grandma’s, I Dare You.”
• finalist, The Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellowships, 2016.
• nominee, Sundress Publications’ Best of the Net 2015 anthology, via Thank You For Swallowing, “When Does That Happen.”
• nominee, Sundress Publications’ Best of the Net 2015 anthology, via DIALOGIST, “Dress Like Pocahontas, Then Let’s Make Love.”
• finalist, Boston Review Annual Poetry Contest 2015
• runner-up, “Discovery” / Boston Review Poetry Contest, 2015
• finalist, The Puritan‘s Thomas Morton Memorial Prize in Literary Excellence 2014
• Littoral Press Poetry Prize – Littoral Press, selected by Gary Young
• Helen S. and John Wagner Award – University of Michigan (2014) – Hopwood Awards 1st prize in graduate poetry
• Hopwood Award in Graduate Non-fiction – University of Michigan (2014)
• Michael R. Gutterman Award in Poetry – University of Michigan (2014), for experimental writing
• Meader Family Award – University of Michigan (2013)
• Vermont Studio Center Helen Zell Residency Fellowship (August 2013)
• Dzanc Disquiet International Literary Program in Lisbon scholarship (July 2013)
• Aspen Summer Words Emerging Writers Fellowship from the Aspen Writers’ Foundation (June 2013)
• finalist, The Iowa Review Awards 2013
• finalist, Dzanc Disquiet International Literary Award 2013
• finalist, Barely South Norton Girault Literary Prize 2013
• 2nd prize Sonora Review Annual Contest 2013, selected by Dawn Lundy Martin

anthropology

• “Mapping Wampum: an ethnographic poetry memoir,” presentation. High Plains Society for Applied Anthropology Fall Retreat, remote/online, October 8, 2022.
• “Rivers & Constellations,” presentation/talk. High Plains Society for Applied Anthropology Fall Retreat, remote/online, October 3, 2020.
• “Expanding the Narrative: Poetry as Decolonizing Ethnographic Method,” presentation/lecture & writing workshop. Anthropology & Poetry Speaker and Workshop Series, Ann Arbor, MI, December 13, 2019.
• “Voices For The Land: Civic Poetry & New Media Activism,” presentation. High Plains Society for Applied Anthropology Spring Conference, Metro State University, Denver, CO, March 2013.
• “Poetry and Anthropology: ethnography at the intersection of fact & fiction,” presentation/paper. High Plains Society for Applied Anthropology Ghost Ranch Fall Retreat, Ghost Ranch, NM, October 2012.

interviews

• “Writing Opportunity: AWP’s Writer to Writer Mentorship Program PLUS An Interview with Program Alum, Essayist & Poet Kenzie Allen,” interview for Hatch Editorial Services, January 2018. Online.
• “A conversation on poetry and migration,” interview alongside Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, Safia Elhillo, Laressa Dickey, and with Éireann Lorsung (moderator), in 111O, Issue 9, May 2016. Print.
• “From the Horse’s Mouth,” interview in Iron Horse Literary Magazine, Issue 18.2, Spring 2016. Print.
• “Interview with Kenzie Allen,“ interview with Fox Fraiser-Foley in TheThe Poetry Blog’s Infoxicated Corner Spotlight Series, January 2016. Online.
• “So There’s This Thing Called The Internet,” interview with Jim Redmond and alongside TYPO‘s Adam Clay. Drunken Boat blog. November 24, 2014. Online.

readings

• “Three Idiots Shouting Poetry Presents Kenzie Allen!” reading and open mic night via Two Idiots Peddling Poetry, Nov 17, 2022, virtual EST.
• “In Praise of Legacy” reading with Angel C. Dye and Aliyah Muhammad, hosted by Faraday Publishing. April 7, 2022, virtual.
• “Indigenous Poetry Series: Joan Naviyuk Kane and Kenzie Allen” reading, hosted by Brooklyn Public Library. Feb 28, 2022.
• Seattle Arts & Lecture presents: a reading with Sherwin Bitsui & Kenzie Allen @ Hugo House, Seattle, WA. Nov 5, 2021.
• 92Y Discovery Prize (2020 & 2021) Reading with Ina Cariño, Asa L. Drake, Luther Hughes, Daniella Toosie-Watson, Mag Gabbert, Ana Portnoy Brimmer, Alexandra Zuckerman; 92 Street Y, New York, NY. Oct 23, 2021.
• “What the Universe Is” reading with Jon D. Lee, hosted by Michael Mercurio. March 11, 2021, virtual.
• “In the Mood for Love Poems: A Poetry Reading and Celebration with Faylita Hicks, Benjamin Garcia, Jubi Arriola-Headley, Allison Adair, and Matthew Olzmann, hosted by White Whale Bookstore. Feb 18 2021,  virtual
• Visiting Writer Reading, with Erika T. Wurth and David Heska Wanbli Weiden. Vermont College of Fine Arts, March 27, 2020.
• BONK! Reading & Music Performance, with Gint Aras and Koku Gonza. Racine, WI, February 25, 2017, with video.
• United We Read UWM student & faculty reading, with Caleb Nelson, Sherri Hoffman, and Lane Hall. Milwaukee, WI, February 16, 2017.
• Off-site Reading with Iron Horse Literary Magazine, grist, and Nashville Review, at AWP ’17, February 10, 2017.
• Poets in Pajamas Reading Series #3: Kenzie Allen, online reading via Periscope, November 13, 2016, with video (starts at 21:43).
• Poetry Reading at Indian Summer Festival, with Franklin Cline. Milwaukee, WI, September 11, 2016.
• Helen Zell Postgraduate Fellows Reading Series, Western/Americana Edition, with Nate Marshall and Joe Horton. Ann Arbor, MI, November 4, 2014.
• Mark Webster Reading Series, with Chigozie Obioma. Ann Arbor, MI, February 21, 2014.
• Off-site Reading with Sonora Review at AWP ’13, Chicago IL,  March 15, 2013.