Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Elegy on the Death of Kenneth Patchen," Lawrence Ferlinghetti pays tribute to fellow poet Kenneth Patchen, reflecting on the life, work, and legacy of a visionary artist. Ferlinghetti blends admiration and grief to create a powerful homage that explores the nature of poetry, truth, and the artist's role in society.

The poem begins with a universal truth about poets: "A poet is born / A poet dies / And all that lies between / is us / and the world." By framing the poet's life between birth and death, Ferlinghetti highlights the impact poets have on society and the world around them. The world "lies about it," pretending to understand the poet's message while largely disregarding or misunderstanding it.

Ferlinghetti acknowledges that the world fears Patchen's "awful strange prophecies," preferring to ignore "all the strange things / he said about the world / which were all too true." Patchen's truth-telling made him more feared than loved, even though "he spoke much of love." This contrast between love and fear reflects the often uncomfortable truths that poets reveal about society.

The poem also touches on Patchen's role as a conscientious objector: "he was a loud conscientious objector to / the deaths we daily give each other / though we speak much of love." Patchen's vocal opposition to violence and hypocrisy set him apart as a moral voice. Ferlinghetti contrasts this with the silence of those in power: "even the agents of Death should take note / and shake the shit from their wings / in Air Force One / But they do not."

Despite his absence, Patchen's words continue to resonate: "And still we hear him say." Ferlinghetti quotes several of Patchen's lines, including "‘Do I not deal with angels / when her lips I touch’" and "‘0 my darling troubles heaven / with her loveliness.’" These lines capture Patchen's lyrical and romantic nature, while also emphasizing the power of love and beauty in his poetry.

Ferlinghetti mourns the disconnection created by Patchen's death: "And the poet now is disconnected / and won’t call back / though he spoke much of love." The repetition of "though he spoke much of love" serves as a refrain throughout the poem, underscoring Patchen's consistent message of love despite the world's indifference.

The poem shifts to a more contemplative tone with the line "He is gone under / He is scattered / undersea." This imagery of the poet submerged under the sea reflects the finality of death and the dissolution of Patchen's physical presence. Yet, Ferlinghetti continues to weave in Patchen's words: "And ‘an astonished eye looks out of the air’ / to see the poet singing there."

The elegy concludes with a poignant scene: "And dusk falls down a coast somewhere / where a white horse without a rider / turns its head / to the sea." This final image of the riderless white horse suggests the absence of a guiding spirit, while the sea symbolizes the unknown depths into which Patchen has vanished. The horse's gaze toward the sea reflects the longing and searching of those left behind.

Overall, "Elegy on the Death of Kenneth Patchen" is a moving tribute that captures the spirit of Patchen's poetry and activism. Ferlinghetti blends his own voice with Patchen's, creating a seamless dialogue between the two poets. The elegy explores themes of love, truth, and mortality while celebrating Patchen's legacy as a poet who spoke truth to power and maintained his idealism in the face of adversity.

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