"I wonder if I ever thought of an ideal reader... I guess when I was in my 20s and in New York and maybe even in my early 30s, I would write for my wife Janice... mainly for my poet friends and my wife, who was very smart about poetry"

Kenneth Koch's quote reflects his composing procedure and the people he wrote for. He wonders if he ever had a perfect reader, and he keeps in mind composing for his partner Janice when he was in his twenties and early thirties. He also mentions composing for his poet buddies. This suggests that he wrote for a particular audience, and that he valued the viewpoints of his better half and poet pals. It is most likely that he wrote to please them and to acquire their approval. Koch's quote also indicates that he was confident in his composing which he was proud of his work. He wanted to share it with those closest to him, and he was confident that they would appreciate it. Koch's quote is a testimony to the value of having an audience when composing, and it reveals the worth of having people who can provide feedback and assistance.