and novelist. Though he denied any direct connection, Patchen's work and ideas regarding the role of artists paralleled those of the Dada
ists, the Beats, and Surrealists
. Patchen's ambitious body of work also foreshadowed literary art-forms ranging from reading poetry to jazz accompaniment to his late experiments with visual poetry (which he called his "picture poems").
Patchen was born in Niles, Ohio
.
Have you wondered why all the windows in heaven werebroken?Have you seen the homeless in the grave of God'shand?Do you want to acquaint the larks with the fatuousmusic of war?
O my love my dear ladyThe world is not very bigThere is only room for our wonderAnd the light leaning winds of heavenAre not more sweet or pureThan your mouth on my throatO my love there are larks in our morningAnd the finding flame of your handsAnd the moss on the bank of the riverAnd the butterfliesAnd the whirling-madButterflies!
Your lips have splashed my dull house with print of flowersMy hands are crooked where they spilled over your dearcurving
The animal I wantedCouldn't get into the world...I can hear it cryingWhen I sit like this away from life.