REMEMBERING KENNETH PATCHEN
FROM REGARDING THE NATURE AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HEAVEN
[ New Directions ]
Kenneth Patchen was born in Niles, Ohio in 1911. I didn't even have to look that up — I've known it for well over 40 years. A fabulous poet with fabulous book titles like, The Journal of Albion Moonlight, Sleepers Awake and Aflame and Afun of Walking Faces. A poet who wrote poems as novels as paintings as poems as painting at once. Who loved Miriam and neither had any children; they were children to one another, the books were children. Jazz recordings with poetry were some of his best work, a few times with Charles Mingus as accomplice. John Cage was another. A hefty and take-charge man, Patchen injured his spine once trying to physically uncouple two vehicles. The injury dogged him and put him into bed for many years of his life, and the paintings and poems continued. Miriam was always there. His main stay publisher New Directions seemed to have the most fun with his books than with of any of their authors. He wrote the grandest poems of humor & protest & love. He should have helped pen The Bill of Rights.
FROM REGARDING THE NATURE AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HEAVEN
[ New Directions ]
Kenneth Patchen was born in Niles, Ohio in 1911. I didn't even have to look that up — I've known it for well over 40 years. A fabulous poet with fabulous book titles like, The Journal of Albion Moonlight, Sleepers Awake and Aflame and Afun of Walking Faces. A poet who wrote poems as novels as paintings as poems as painting at once. Who loved Miriam and neither had any children; they were children to one another, the books were children. Jazz recordings with poetry were some of his best work, a few times with Charles Mingus as accomplice. John Cage was another. A hefty and take-charge man, Patchen injured his spine once trying to physically uncouple two vehicles. The injury dogged him and put him into bed for many years of his life, and the paintings and poems continued. Miriam was always there. His main stay publisher New Directions seemed to have the most fun with his books than with of any of their authors. He wrote the grandest poems of humor & protest & love. He should have helped pen The Bill of Rights.
