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Kenneth Koch
1925 –
2002

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Kenneth Koch
Photo credit: Larry Rivers

Kenneth Koch was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 27, 1925. 

About Kenneth Koch

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More by this poet

The Study of Happiness (audio only)

 

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Kenneth Koch
1969

One Train May Hide Another

(sign at a railroad crossing in Kenya)

In a poem, one line may hide another line,
As at a crossing, one train may hide another train.
That is, if you are waiting to cross
The tracks, wait to do it for one moment at
Least after the first train is gone. And so when you read
Wait until you have read the next line—

Kenneth Koch
1994

Talking to Patrizia

Patrizia doesn't want to
Talk about love she
Says she just
Wants to make
Love but she talks
About it almost endlessly to me.

It is horrible it
Is the worst thing in life
Says Patrizia
Nothing
Not death not sickness
Is as bad as love

I am always
In love I am always
Suffering from love
Says Patrizia. Now
I am used to it
But I am suffering all the same

Do you know what I did to her
Once?--speaking
Of her girlfriend--I kicked her out
I literally kicked her she was down on the floor and I
Gave her the colpi di piedi the
Kicks of my foot.
Kenneth Koch
1994

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