PATCHEN REPACKAGED

Less than a year ago New Directions brought out these two handsome and comfortable collections of work by the singular 20th century poet and painter Kenneth Patchen. As a youthful and once-again acolyte of Patchen's I was flabbergasted to be offered the opportunity to write an introduction for THE WALKING-AWAY WORLD, a collection of his late-life picture poems. This review of the books will give you an idea whether they are your cup of tea.