American poet, b. 27 February 1925. Though best known for his books on teaching poetry to children (Wishes, Lies & Dreams, 1970; Rose, Where Did You Get That Red?, 1974), Koch can also be credited as the organizing figure in the New York School of poets, no matter what fans of John Ashbery and Frank O'Hara might tell you. Last name is pronounced "coke," something he points out in his poem "The Pleasures of Peace."