Kenneth Patchen
A couple of years ago I walked into Dutton's in North Hollywood and spotted a copy of this book:
"What Shall We Do Without Us?" just randomly sitting on one of the book counters. I picked it up and instantly fell in love. When I walked up to the register with it, I thought that the man behind the counter (whom I think was the owner) was going to start crying. He started talking to me about Kenneth Patchen and his work and what Patchen meant to him. He hesitated a wee bit about selling it (or so it seemed) but then said "It'll go to a good home..." Ever since then I have been fascinated with Patchen's work and I seek out copies of his books-especially the illustrated ones wherever I go.
Yesterday, David and I felt like we needed to get out of the house so we picked up Tristan after school and traipsed to West L.A. to the bookstores. We first stopped off at Laser Blazer to check out Kevin Smith's new comic shop inside the store, Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash. Great stash of goodies from Smith's films. Plus, hey, it's neat to have a comic book store inside of the DVD store (hmm reminds me of Meltdown-which is a comic book store that has Drunken Master, a DVD store in it. Didn't buy anything...then trekked over to Alias Books. Almost bought a book on the Bemelmans (Madeleine) (I didn't). We then hit Gene de Chene. SCORE! I love this store-it's wall to wall books and Samantha, the owner has damn good taste. I NEVER ever go out looking for a certain book at the used stores as I rarely will find that one book...yet I went out looking for Max Deluxe $8 knowing I had seen it at one of the two stores (Alias or Gene de Chene). Found it! I also found a copy Georgie by Robert Bright which I adored as a kid. For a $1.50 it went in my pile. Love the little illustrations in this book. Also found a copy of Woman: A Celebration by Peter Fetterman. $8 I've been looking for a copy of this for a long time at a good price. There are a lot of my favorite photos compiled in this book. I thought I was done finding these three books and trying to decide whether or not to buy an Arabic book for the script in it (I love the Arabic writing it's so beautiful). Then I Saw It.
Hallelujah Anyway by Kenneth Patchen. I asked Samantha if I could look at it as it was wrapped in plastic. She said to just rip off the tape. When one has a husband who keeps almost all of his books wrapped in comic book bags, one knows how to go about taking the book out of the bag "the right way" ;) (love ya David, *mwah*!) I open up the book and flip. "Oh wow." I sigh. I turn it over to look at the price $20. *sigh* I need this book. Okay. Samantha tells me she has other Patchen books and puts a copy of Cloth of the Tempest in my hands. $25. (There are lots of different copies listed on ebay at an array of prices). So much for an inexpensive day out...$67 my arms were laden with books and I was happy to have new tomes to devour.
Check out more of Kenneth Patchen's Painted Poems and silk screened poems here. I love his poem called the Artist's Duty.
The Artist's Duty by Kenneth Patchen-
(Art and Poetry above copyright Kenneth Patchen)
*****
Great Democracy Now today on the Writer's Strike, Sweatshop made Crucifixes, "What Would Jesus Buy?" and the One Year Anniversary of the Murder of Sean Bell. Well worth listening to this one!
*****
I wanted to wish everyone the Happiest of Thanksgivings. I hope that you all have a wonderful, peaceful day doing whatever it is that you may. Thank you to all of my family, friends and all of you that stop in and read my meanderings and ramblings. Thanks for being there. I wish you all Peace and Love at the beginning of this Holiday Season. Love to you all!
"What Shall We Do Without Us?" just randomly sitting on one of the book counters. I picked it up and instantly fell in love. When I walked up to the register with it, I thought that the man behind the counter (whom I think was the owner) was going to start crying. He started talking to me about Kenneth Patchen and his work and what Patchen meant to him. He hesitated a wee bit about selling it (or so it seemed) but then said "It'll go to a good home..." Ever since then I have been fascinated with Patchen's work and I seek out copies of his books-especially the illustrated ones wherever I go.
Yesterday, David and I felt like we needed to get out of the house so we picked up Tristan after school and traipsed to West L.A. to the bookstores. We first stopped off at Laser Blazer to check out Kevin Smith's new comic shop inside the store, Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash. Great stash of goodies from Smith's films. Plus, hey, it's neat to have a comic book store inside of the DVD store (hmm reminds me of Meltdown-which is a comic book store that has Drunken Master, a DVD store in it. Didn't buy anything...then trekked over to Alias Books. Almost bought a book on the Bemelmans (Madeleine) (I didn't). We then hit Gene de Chene. SCORE! I love this store-it's wall to wall books and Samantha, the owner has damn good taste. I NEVER ever go out looking for a certain book at the used stores as I rarely will find that one book...yet I went out looking for Max Deluxe $8 knowing I had seen it at one of the two stores (Alias or Gene de Chene). Found it! I also found a copy Georgie by Robert Bright which I adored as a kid. For a $1.50 it went in my pile. Love the little illustrations in this book. Also found a copy of Woman: A Celebration by Peter Fetterman. $8 I've been looking for a copy of this for a long time at a good price. There are a lot of my favorite photos compiled in this book. I thought I was done finding these three books and trying to decide whether or not to buy an Arabic book for the script in it (I love the Arabic writing it's so beautiful). Then I Saw It. 
Hallelujah Anyway by Kenneth Patchen. I asked Samantha if I could look at it as it was wrapped in plastic. She said to just rip off the tape. When one has a husband who keeps almost all of his books wrapped in comic book bags, one knows how to go about taking the book out of the bag "the right way" ;) (love ya David, *mwah*!) I open up the book and flip. "Oh wow." I sigh. I turn it over to look at the price $20. *sigh* I need this book. Okay. Samantha tells me she has other Patchen books and puts a copy of Cloth of the Tempest in my hands. $25. (There are lots of different copies listed on ebay at an array of prices). So much for an inexpensive day out...$67 my arms were laden with books and I was happy to have new tomes to devour.Check out more of Kenneth Patchen's Painted Poems and silk screened poems here. I love his poem called the Artist's Duty.
The Artist's Duty by Kenneth Patchen-
| So it is the duty of the artist to discourage all traces of shame To extend all boundaries To fog them in right over the plate To kill only what is ridiculous To establish problem To ignore solutions To listen to no one To omit nothing To contradict everything To generate the free brain To bear no cross To take part in no crucifixion To tinkle a warning when mankind strays To explode upon all parties To wound deeper than the soldier To heal this poor obstinate monkey once and for all To verify the irrational To exaggerate all things To inhibit everyone To lubricate each proportion To experience only experience To set a flame in the high air To exclaim at the commonplace alone To cause the unseen eyes to open To admire only the abrsurd To be concerned with every profession save his own To raise a fortuitous stink on the boulevards of truth and beauty To desire an electrifiable intercourse with a female alligator To lift the flesh above the suffering To forgive the beautiful its disconsolate deceit To flash his vengeful badge at every abyss To HAPPEN It is the artist’s duty to be alive To drag people into glittering occupations To blush perpetually in gaping innocence To drift happily through the ruined race-intelligence To burrow beneath the subconscious To defend the unreal at the cost of his reason To obey each outrageous inpulse To commit his company to all enchantments. |
(Art and Poetry above copyright Kenneth Patchen)
*****
Great Democracy Now today on the Writer's Strike, Sweatshop made Crucifixes, "What Would Jesus Buy?" and the One Year Anniversary of the Murder of Sean Bell. Well worth listening to this one!
*****
I wanted to wish everyone the Happiest of Thanksgivings. I hope that you all have a wonderful, peaceful day doing whatever it is that you may. Thank you to all of my family, friends and all of you that stop in and read my meanderings and ramblings. Thanks for being there. I wish you all Peace and Love at the beginning of this Holiday Season. Love to you all!
Comments
xxo
sarah