Kenneth Koch was an amazing gem—poet, soldier, teacher; here is a guy who lived poetry, and loved it enough to teach little kids and the elderly the pleasures of writing. This has been a sad past few months in the writing world, with Philip Whalen passing also. I want to share a story about Kenneth Koch’s generosity and good nature. In early 1999, we were having a party for our second issue of Tool a Magazine. We had had a contest running asking for poems based on the themes of poultry or poultry houses. We didn’t expect to get many, and we were truly impressed when Koch’s “Suggestions for an ideal laying shed” showed up. Mr. Koch and Philip Good were our dual-winners. Jordan Davis, who was close with Koch, informed us that Kenneth might be stopping by our Tool a Magazine party at Segue to receive his award! (which was a Marabout & Secretary nature print). I kept one eye on the door for most of the evening, wondering if he would be able to make it. Well, he did, and not only received our award, but read the poem in front of a group of happily stunned people (Is that Kenneth Koch?). I heard he was at the opera or symphony, and hopped in a cab to come downtown just to stop by the reading. It was amazing just to have him there. New Addresses, his most recent, is also one of his best, blending the wit and beauty we have come to love from Koch. His works have never failed to make me laugh or challenge me, and I know that he will have a dedicated readership base for years to come. He will be truly missed by many.
ES: 7.7.02
(Here is the poem he sent for our contest in 1999)
Suggestions For An Ideal Laying Shed
In the ideal laying
shed
A chicken must have room to raise her head
And see the various times of day
Otherwise she will not lay
She will not lay the much desired egg.
She needs the sunrise and the thrill
Of noon and, too, the evening’s chill
Sombre descent on valley and on hill—
Without, she will not lay!
So make your laying shed a roof
Both high enough and weatherproof
To keep those times of day
Away from chicken who must lay
In dry impeccable solitude
Although affected by the mood
Created by the different times of day.
Then she will lay
In festive mood
A plentitude
Of eggs, which then you take away
And praise her, too: Sublimest hen!
That she may lay again,
Again, again, and yet again
On each successive day!
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