Sleeping on the Wing

“Conversational ease, technical expertise and inspiring enthusiasm make the book a marvel.” —Newsweek

“When two fine poets get together and produce a work on the criticism and appreciation of modern poetry the result is more than likely to be first-rate. And so it is with Sleeping on the Wing.” —Independent Press Telegram

“Sensible introductory material, short readable essays on the poets, and stimulating suggestions for writing complement the selections beautifully. Aside from being a useful classroom text, this would make a first rate introduction for those who wish to explore poetry on their own.” —The Library Journal

“A significant contribution to both the criticism and appreciation of modern poetry… . This innovative book make poetry interesting and accessible even to uninitiated readers and shows them how to write poetry themselves.” —The Chapel Hill Newspaper


“In an age when most poetry criticism reads like the fine print on your federal tax form, Kenneth Koch and Kate Farrell have put together a clear and highly accessible introductory anthology… . Koch and Farrell demystify poetry and provide the reader with a number of ways to approach it… . Anyone with an interest in contemporary writing should know this book.” —Indianapolis Star

Kenneth Koch

Kenneth Koch (1925-2002) was a celebrated poet and playwright whose work often explored themes of playfulness, imagination, and the joy of language. His numerous poetry collections include New Addresses, Straits, and One Train. He was recognized with prestigious awards such as the Bollingen Prize for Poetry (1995), the Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry from the Library of Congress (1996), and the first Phi Beta Kappa Poetry Award (2001).

Koch also authored influential books on poetry for both children and adults, including Wishes, Lies, and Dreams, Rose, Where Did You Get That Red?, and Making Your Own Days: The Pleasures of Reading and Writing Poetry. His short plays, many of which premiered off- and off-off-Broadway, are collected in The Gold Standard: A Book of Plays. He dedicated many years to teaching undergraduates at Columbia University.

Kate Farrell

Kate Farrell began her literary journey as a student of Kenneth Koch at Columbia University. She collaborated with him on the Nursing Home project, which inspired his book I Never Told Anybody, and later worked as a fellow teacher in the same initiative. Following her graduation, Farrell taught poetry in New York State high schools through the Poets in the Schools Program, an experience that significantly influenced her anthology Sleeping on the Wing.

She co-authored Talking to the Sun with Kenneth Koch, an anthology for young readers that paired poetry with artwork from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Farrell has since curated four additional anthologies for the Metropolitan Museum and the National Gallery, connecting poetry with visual art. Her own poetry has been published in numerous journals, including Poetry, Partisan Review, Hudson Review, and Harvard Review. Her work has also been featured in several editions of The Best Spiritual Writing series. Farrell has taught imaginative writing at Columbia University.

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