Last week saw the sad death of Liverpool poet Brian Patten, ironically just a couple of days before National Poetry Day 2025.
Patten, who has been described as a “force of nature”, died peacefully, in hospital, aged 79. Born in Liverpool in 1946, Patten came to prominence with The Mersey Sound, published by Penguin in 1967 as part of their Penguin Modern Poets series of paperbacks. He co-wrote the anthology alongside Roger McGough and the late Adrian Henri. It is thought to be one of the best-selling poetry anthologies of all time.
Each poet has their own section with Patten concluding with his selection of 26 poems, including two of my favourites: ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Smethwick’ and ‘Schoolboy’. The collection sold over 500,000 copies and remains in print. It was a ‘must have’ book when it was first published and brought the three poets “considerable acclaim and critical fame”. It has been widely influential.
He has been described as enigmatic, challenging and having a quicksilver spirit. It is sad that yet another poet of our time has gone. Maybe he wouldn’t wish to be called an icon but he was. Commenting on the news of his death Roger McGough said he was “laid low” by the news of his friend’s death writing: “My soul-mate. R.I.P. May he Rest In Poetry.”
deilibri 