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The Walking-Away World, by Kenneth Patchen

Fully illustrated; With an introduction by Jim Woodring

The wonderful picture-poems of Kenneth Patchen, long out of print, are being brought back into one generous volume -- cryptic creatures quipping quirky quotes and all.

"The world of Kenneth Patchen is complete with its own fantastic system. Its population, human, animal, or otherwise, has never really been counted or described -- all would-be census-takers have come back with a dazed sort of shining on their faces and have never been the same since." --John Clellon Holmes, The New York Times Book Review

The singular work of Kenneth Patchen has influenced poets, artists and political activists for decades. New Directions is proud to launch a Patchen revival beginning with omnibus editions of his unique compositions. Kenneth Patchen's last words to New Directions' founder James Laughlin were, "When you find out which came first, the chicken or the egg, you write and tell me." Patchen answered the riddle by painting "picture-poems." The Walking-Away World contains three of his picture-poem collections: Wonderings, Hallelujah Anyway, and But Even So. Inspired by the "illuminated printing" of William Blake, Patchen worked with a spirited fervency in watercolor, casein, inks, and other media to create absurd, compelling works. His entire process was a simultaneous fusion of painting and poetry: neither the poem nor the painting preceded the other. Each picture-poem is inhabited by strange beings uttering everything from poignant poetic adages to cheeky satire. One confides, "I have a funny feeling / that some very peculiar looking creatures out there are watching us." The graphic artist and cartoonist Jim Woodring helps to capture the suspicious joys of The Walking-Away World with an effervescent introduction.

Kenneth Patchen (1911-1972) was one of the most prolific American poets of his time. He was born in Niles, Ohio. He attended school at the University of Madison-Wisconsin where he met his wife, Miriam Oikemus. They moved to Greenwich Village and befriended many writers including E.E. Cummings, Anais Nïn, and Henry Miller. An accident occurred after his first publication that would eventually leave him an invalid. He and his wife later moved to San Francisco during the early years of the Beat Movement. Many Beat poets would cite Patchen as a major influence. His "experimental protests" in poetry, painting, and prose remain unprecedented. Aside from his many books of poetry, his acclaimed novels, and his concrete visual works, Kenneth Patchen also collaborated with John Cage for the radio-play The City Wears a Slouch Hat, and worked with Charles Mingus developing jazz poetry. Patchen was an unwavering pacifist and many of his works have a political bent. Patchen was the first recipient of an NEA Literary Grant in 1967.

Date of publication: July 2008