Kenneth Patchen (December 13, 1911 - January 8, 1972) was an American poet and painter. He was an influence on the beat movement.

Patchen was born in Niles, Ohio. He attended Alexander Meiklejohn's Experimental College for one year and then the University of Wisconsin. For much of his life Patchen suffered from a spinal disorder which caused extreme pain.

Patchen espoused anarchism and pacifism, and much of his work opposes war. He was against U.S. involvement in World War II, believing that the high ideals of protecting democracy were betrayed by political machinations and senseless violence.

In 1942 Patch collaborated with the composer John Cage on the radio play The City Wears A Slouch Hat.

Many of his poems have been set to music by David Bedford. Composer Kyle Gann has set his voice reading a text to music (see below) and violinist Carla Kihlstedt set a text on the "Patchen" track of her solo Tzadik release Two Foot Yard.

External links

• Kenneth Patchen Home Page
• So Many Little Dyings mp3, a song by Kyle Gann with a sample of Patchen reading