‘Be Music, Night’
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An inspiration for the Beat Generation and a true “people’s poet,” KENNETH PATCHEN (1911–1972) was a prolific writer, visual artist and . . . MORE »
An inspiration for the Beat Generation and a true “people’s poet,” KENNETH PATCHEN (1911–1972) was a prolific writer, visual artist and . . . MORE »
By Kenneth Patchen
Be music, night,
That her sleep may go
Where angels have their pale tall choirs
Be a hand, sea,
That her dreams may watch
Thy guidesman touching the green flesh of the world
Be a voice, sky,
That her beauties may be counted
And the stars will tilt their quiet faces
Into the mirror of her loveliness
Be a road, earth,
That her walking may take thee
Where the towns of heaven lift their breathing spires
O be a world and a throne, God,
That her living may find its weather
And the souls of ancient bells in a child's book
Shall lead her into Thy wondrous house
Kenneth Patchen, “Be Music, Night” from Collected Poems. Copyright 1943 by Kenneth Patchen. Reprinted with the permission of New Directions Publishing Corporation.