100 Years of Kenneth Patchen

Kenneth Patchen born 100 years ago today.

This is his handwritten introduction to

"An Astonished Eye Looks Out of the Air"

I AM OPPOSED TO ALL WAR.

I DON’T BELIEVE HUMAN BEINGS

SHOULD KILL EACH OTHER.

I AM OPPOSED TO ALL VIOLENCE—

FOR WHATEVER REASON.

I BELIEVE THAT WARS WILL

ONLY END WHEN MEN

REFUSE TO MURDER ONE ANOTHER—

FOR WHATEVER REASON. I BELIEVE

THESE THINGS AS A MAN AND AS A

REVOLUTIONIST. FOR I BELIEVE

WARS WILL ONLY END WHEN THE

PRESENT MURDEROUS FORMS OF

SOCIETY ARE ALLOWED TO DIE—

AND ALL MEN ARE AT LAST

PERMITTED TO LIVE

TOGETHER AS BROTHERS.

K.P NEW YORK CITY JULY 1945