the photo on the cover is over-exposed

           the face radiant, almost luminous

 

too much light

but that could be said about him

                                    in every way

 

too much light Kenneth Patchen

too wide eyes poet sir

too much love

it made the haters nervous

too much pain

you and Christ had so much pain

 

you never wanted to be a Jesus

but were still crucified

the poems gasped out like last breath

 

that face on the cover

that brow like a roman

those eyes sunk deep and pained

you and Christ had so much pain

 

those eyes never stop seeing

and helping others see

 

those eyes glare at the haters

smile at the lovers

make free the poets

 

         those eyes luminous light

         on this dark,

                              dark earth.