Wishes, Lies and Dreams by Kenneth Koch

Wishes, Lies and Dreams by Kenneth Koch

The classic, inspiring account of a poet's experience teaching school children to write poetry

When Kenneth Koch entered the Manhattan classrooms of P.S. 61, the children, excited by the opportunity to work with an instructor able to inspire their talent and energy, would clap and shout with pleasure. In this vivid account, Koch describes his inventive methods for teaching these children how to create poems and gives numerous examples of their work. Wishes, Lies, and Dreams is a valuable text for all those who care about freeing the creative imagination and educating the young.

Ron Padgett is a poet and the publications director of Teacher & Writers Collective. He teaches poetry writing at Columbia University and Brooklyn College.