Skip to main content
20 years
Narrative
x
  • FICTION
  • POETRY
  • NONFICTION
  • LIBRARY
    • by Author
    • by Theme
    • by Title, Form, Author
    • Narrative Prize Winners
    • Story Lists
    • Contests
  • LEARN
    • Narrative for Schools
    • High School Writing Contest
    • Writing Prompts
    • Video Tutorials
    • Writers & Mentors Videos
    • Advice for Writers
    • Writers’ Resources
    • This Could Be Me
    • Recommended Reading
    • Theme-Based Reading Guide
    • Explore Our Library by Theme
    • A Note to Teachers
    • A Note to Students
    • About Narrative for Schools
  • BACKSTAGE
  • STORE
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
    • Mission
    • Masthead
    • Board of Directors
    • Friends & Patrons
    • Events
    • Recent Awards for Our Authors
    • Narrative in the News
    • FAQ
    • Advertise in Narrative
  • DONATE
  • SIGN IN
manage_search Narrative
TELL ME A STORY
person
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
search
  • FICTION
  • POETRY
  • NONFICTION
  • LIBRARY
    • BY AUTHOR
    • BY THEME
    • BY TITLE, FORM, AUTHOR
    • NARRATIVE PRIZE WINNERS
    • STORY LISTS
    • CONTESTS
  • LEARN
    • NARRATIVE FOR SCHOOLS
    • HIGH SCHOOL CONTEST
    • WRITING PROMPTS
    • VIDEO TUTORIALS
    • WRITERS & MENTORS VIDEOS
    • ADVICE FOR WRITERS
    • WRITERS’ RESOURCES
    • RECOMMENDED READING
    • THEME-BASED READING GUIDE
    • EXPLORE BY THEME
    • A NOTE TO TEACHERS
    • A NOTE TO STUDENTS
    • ABOUT SCHOOLS
  • BACKSTAGE
  • STORE
  • SUBMIT YOUR WORK
  • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • MISSION
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • FRIENDS & PATRONS
    • EVENTS
    • NARRATIVE IN THE NEWS
    • FAQ
    • ADVERTISE IN NARRATIVE
  • DONATE
  • ADVERTISING
Narrative is a nonprofit
supported by readers
who love great writing.
Read us.
Support us.
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
Sign In
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • CONTACT US
  • ADVERTISE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
Narrative is a nonprofit
supported by readers
who love great writing.
Read us.
Support us.

Kenzie Allen, author of Cloud Missives (Tin House, 2024), is a first-generation descendant of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. She received her PhD in English and creative writing from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and an MFA in poetry from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan. A recipient of the inaugural James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets, she is an assistant professor of English at York University.

QUICK TAGS
Race &
Ethnicity

The Body
Gender &
Sexuality

Heartache &
Loss

Beauty
Memory
+ MORE

FOLLOW US:

Whatever Is the Matter

by Kenzie Allen
Share
Facebook Facebook Threads Threads Reddit Reddit Forward Forward Print Print Copy link Copy link

My thought at the collarbone:
how the skin carries its light. One
breathable membrane, an onion
nerve filled and luminous. One half

a current-ridden circuit, one hollow
for these shoulders, curled spine. Wrists
undamaged and strong ankles, free
of any hurt. How I regret not opening
People on couch
To continue reading please sign in.
Join for free
Already a reader? Sign In

Story Right Column Menu

  • NARRATIVE FOR SCHOOLS
  • SEARCH THE LIBRARY
  • SEARCH BY THEME
  • WRITERS’ RESOURCES
  • SUBMIT YOUR WORK
  • SUPPORT NARRATIVE

Hello. Log In.

Reader Comments

There are not yet any comments on this story. Would you like to leave one?

  • CONTACT US
  • ADVERTISE
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Narrative is a nonprofit
supported by readers
who love great writing.
Read us.
Support us.