Notes to the Hurrying Man: Poems, Winter '66-Summer '68

by Brian Patten

Book by Patten, Brian

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1969

Reviews

[Sian]

Lots of rain and birds and creatures.
Lovely.
Also has a great cover.

[Danielle D]

Beautifully nuanced poetry with reoccurring themes of planets, nakedness, dreams, loneliness and hope.

Some of my favourite lines:
Sat glittering inside myself
Love goes limping
All her senses open out, To receive each sensation for herself
He has learnt to make all worlds his own
Waking in strange beds, we are screwed and perfect

In the first few poems, the idealised 'fantasy of the female' was explored, which I thought may be another example of the male gaze. However, with each new poem, I saw the sophistication in Patten's depictions of women, and how each perspective was used to illustrate the specific mindset of each man. For example, the retired schoolmaster who dreams of a woman "tall and blonde and damaged by boredom" is oversimplified, but gives me such a clear insight into his character.

I LOVE this line: But more afraid of what the night might not offer us

[Miru]

this was okay. some of the poems come across as very bitter and overwrought. i guess he was in his early twenties when most of these poems were written so the bitterness comes as no surprise.

[Lysergius]

Not bad for a 23 year old. Bound to mellow with age...