Kenneth Patchen

Kenneth Patchen (13 December 1911 – 8 January 1972) was an American poet and painter.

You, the woman; I, the man; this, the world:
And each is the work of all.

Quotes

You, the sought for; I, the seeker; this, the search:
And each is the mission of all.

For greatness is only the drayhorse that coaxes
The built cart out; and where we go is reason.

• You, the woman; I, the man; this, the world:
  And each is the work of all.
  • "The Character of Love Seen as a Search for the Lost"

• You, the sought for; I, the seeker; this, the search:
  And each is the mission of all.

  For greatness is only the drayhorse that coaxes
  The built cart out; and where we go is reason.
  But genius is an enormous littleness, a trickling
  Of heart that covers alike the hare and the hunter.

  • "The Character of Love Seen as a Search for the Lost"

• You, the village; I, the stranger; this, the road:
  And each is the work of all.

  Then, not that man do more, or stop pity; but that he be
  Wider in living; that all his cities fly a clean flag...
  We have been alone too long, love; it is terribly late
  For the pierced feet on the water and we must not die now.

  • "The Character of Love Seen as a Search for the Lost"

• Have you wondered why all the windows in heaven were
  broken?
  Have you seen the homeless in the grave of God's
  hand?
  Do you want to acquaint the larks with the fatuous
  music of war?
  • "The Character of Love Seen as a Search for the Lost"

• O my love my dear lady
  The world is not very big
  There is only room for our wonder
  And the light leaning winds of heaven
  Are not more sweet or pure
  Than your mouth on my throat
  O my love there are larks in our morning
  And the finding flame of your hands
  And the moss on the bank of the river
  And the butterflies
  And the whirling-mad
  Butterflies!
  • "'O My Love the Pretty Towns'"

• As we are so wonderfully done with each other
  We can walk into our separate sleep
  on floors of music where the milkwhite cloak of childhood
  lies
  • "As We Are So Wonderfully Done With Each Other"

• Your lips have splashed my dull house with print of flowers
  My hands are crooked where they spilled over your dear
  curving
  • "As We Are So Wonderfully Done With Each Other"

• To leave the earth was my wish, and no will stayed my rising.
  Early, before sun had filled the roads with carts
  Conveying folk to weddings and to murders;
  Before men left their selves of sleep, to wander
  In the dark of the world like whipped beasts.
  • "The Temple"

• The animal I wanted
  Couldn't get into the world...
  I can hear it crying
  When I sit like this away from life.
  • "'The Animal I Wanted'"

External links

• The Kenneth Patchen Home Page
• Obituary of Miriam Patchen by Marcus Williamson in The Independent (UK)
• The Orange Bears, a poem that references his childhood in Youngstown, OH
• Tracing the Places of Kenneth Patchen
• "Portrait of a Rebel Poet" by Larry Smith at smithdocs.net
• Selected Poems & Paintings by Patchen, with Photographs and Biography
• "Kenneth Patchen, A Tribute Page" at recollectionbooks.com
• "Kenneth Patchen centennial: poetry that still resonates" by J. H. Miller, 12.12.11, at sfbg.com - An appreciation of Patchen's work with audio clips of him reading his work.
• Patchen Books - Kenneth Patchen Book Page at Bottom Dog Press and Artichoke Press