About Hands on Stanzas
Hands on Stanzas, the educational outreach program of the Poetry Center of Chicago places professional, teaching Poets in residence at Chicago Public Schools across the city. Poets teach the reading, discussion, and writing of poetry to 3 classes over the course of 20 classroom visits, typically from October through April. Students improve their reading, writing, and public speaking skills, and participating teachers report improved motivation and academic confidence. You can contact Cassie Sparkman, Director of the Hands on Stanzas program, by phone: 312.629.1665 or by email: csparkman(at)poetrycenter.org for more information.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Love Poems
Ms. Jones, 3rd grade
Crab
Griffin B.
You taste good but a little fishy.
You are tasty in butter but a little
fishy. You are good but a little
fishy. Crab, you are divine
but a little fishy.
Love Potion
Jacob E.
Drink this, you
love it. What is
it? Love potion.
Wow! Drink it,
come drink it.
OK. I love this
cup. Uh oh, I put
love potion in it.
I thought I tricked
him! Double uh oh!
If I Had Dog Language
Isabella K.
If I had dog language,
I would say, Woof! Woof! Woof!
That means, “Hi how you doing?”
Woof! Woof! Woof!
That means, “I love my dog.”
Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!
That means, “What's your name?”
Woof! Woof! Woof!
That means, “The floor stinks like
you, but I still love you.”
Woof! Woof! Woof!
means, take a five week bath.
My Music
Andrena M.
My music is great, I
listen to it all the
time. I listen to rock,
and punk rock. I love
to listen to it. My
favorite song is “Dance
Dance,” it makes me
tired and it is kinda
loud, but I get
used to it.
Saturday Morning
Divya P.
When I wake up in the morning,
I look at the calendar, find
the 9th. Yaaaaaaaay! It's Saturday.
The pajamas stay on all day.
I just love Saturday. I look
at the calendar just to make
sure. It's a four-day weekend.
That's even better. I can
do whatever I want.
Saturday rocks. Do you have
an idea of what I should
do?
Ms. Goode, 5th grade
Love of Legos
Kush G.
Legos are sweet, but not
that spicy. I love to build all
that there is.
They are bricks like
real bricks. Fun to play and love
to pieces.
They are tiny but not
that tiny. They are sweet and
sound unlike anything else.
I love Legos, they are
really fun. I will be with them
till I am through.
Caesar the Dog
Andres G.
All black and curly, cute and small,
shaped like a heart when sleeping,
quiet and calm. Cute eyes, small
body, that's my dog, Caesar.
I Love Summer Vacation
Sang H.
A break from school.
No homework, now
that's the best
part of all.
I'll get to cool off
in the pool.
Relaxing in the
shade. And did
I mention no
school?
Weekends
Seyi O.
I love weekends because I can play my
video games. I love no school. Sometimes go
to my friend's house. I can bake cookies and
I have a lot of fun. I love the weekends a lot.
The Piano
Sammy R.
I like to play the piano.
I move my fingers onto
the keys.
I like my piano teacher, Ms. Rollin.
She is so cute!
I like the program.
It is a fun place to visit.
I like playing “Hot Cross Buns.”
Also, the tunes of “Yankee Doodle,”
“Black Birds” and “Black Ants.”
I like how my fingers twist
as the music plays.
I Like Paper
Jeremy S.
When you see a paper
it's blank, it's uncivilized.
But with the pencil you
could see your imagination
come to life, see things
that every person can see.
To create things, discover,
that's what paper is
all about.
Mr. Sandlass, 4th grade
Cookies
Sargon D.
I love cookies
they are really
sweet.
You mock me
while I see
you because
I have to
let you sit
out a bit,
you are
just saying
in my mind,
“Get me out
of here.”
You are
my favorite
too bad
I ate
you.
SweeTarts
Klea K.
SweeTarts, I love you.
You help me out when I'm troubled.
One of you and I'm in your world.
You're sour and sweet, you make me
complete. SweeTarts, SweeTarts, I love
you so true, now here's a big, wet
tunnel just for you! SweeTarts, SweeTarts,
why are you so sour? You're supposed to
be sweet but you give me some
power!
Chocolate
Sherme M.
Brown, hard,
sweet, sugary,
with milk, almonds,
or just plain.
Dark and light,
maybe crunchy.
Just one bite
and I will
be pleased.
Bunny
Milad Q.
I love you, bunny, you don't know how
much. Your fur, it smells as sweet as violets.
Your fur is as soft as jelly. That is why
I love you. You don't forget you're a cute animal,
bunny. I miss you.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
L-e-t-t-e-r P-o-e-m-s
Here are a few of the best from each class.
Ms. Jones, 3rd grade
Dear Papa,
Thanks for taking care of me.
Thanks for buying me whatever I want.
Thanks for schooling me to be smart.
Anton
Dear Papa,
You have taught me everything
so I owe you thanks
I believe in you in all my
heart but I know you
feel sick so I hope you
get well
love as always your daughter,
Allison
Dear Talkative Me 100 Years From Now,
I'm talking too much I need help,
I need medicine,
I'm talking like a toad,
I'm talking too much,
I need to go to the
Talkative Emergency Room,
HELP ME
Sincerely,
Maya 100 Years Before
Dear Snowstorm,
Why didn't you last till Saturday
morning? We could have had no school
Thursday to Friday. I'm mad at you, I
actually HHAATTTE!!! you, I could have
loved you 'cause I could have had a
six day weekend because the teachers
said, “If it snows like this tonight there
is no school and for Monday and Tuesday
no school because Monday is President's
Day and Tuesday is Lincoln's B-day."
Love wait cross that
out Hate,
Andrew M.
Ms. Goode, 5th grade
Dear Brain,
How come you won't work with me
anymore? This poem is supposed to be exciting.
And, yet, it is sooo boring. There is nothing in
my brain. It's empty and air is going through. My
mind is empty, thanks to you. This is a complaint
letter, I want a letter back.
Thank you,
Edina
Dear All Chefs Who Cook Snails,
This is a very important
notice to all chefs who
cook snails. We come in
peace but this torture
has gone too far.
We order you to stop
killing our citizens
this instant
or expect an invasion
that shall go
forever in history
which shall end when
humans are wiped out.
Sincerely,
Snail Association of Protection Agency
(S.A.P.A.) [Yixuan]
Dear Dad,
I just wanted to say
thank you for all
the things you did.
Now I can ride
a two-wheeler, thanks
to you I don't slip,
fall, or hurt my
self.
I can do lots and
lots of things now.
Thank you!
Your daughter,
Chanel
Dear Pencil,
This poem can't write itself.
I can't think of anything to
write, help me out here. Pencils
are supposed to write not
just sit there.
Yusra M.
Dear Heather,
Heather, you are like a pot of
water. If I tell you something, you
never spill. You have spots, like a
summer moon. You have a beautiful,
long tail, like a sea snake. I
will see you, only on the days
that end in Y.
Sincerely, Marti R.
Mr. Sandlass, 4th grade
Dear Monica,
I am very tired. I played outside,
shoveled, did my homework and that's
it. What did you do? Right now I
want to read a super long
chapter book. I'm in a mood to
read. Today the snow was up to
my ankles, yesterday it was up to my
knees. The snow from yesterday turned
to ice and more snow fell so
it is now up to my ankles. See
you very soon!
Cynthia
Dear Lyna,
I said you're the best. You're
as nice as a fresh strawberry picked
from a great bush. The best friend
to help learn a language.
You help me, I help you.
You come late, I come early.
I come late, you're already there.
I tell you you're the best.
Vivian T.
Dear Me,
When you find this letter you might
be any age, walking out in your yard
with your son or grandson. Maybe
your son brought a shovel or just his hands
and he will dig and find this letter. You might have
forgotten this letter you wrote. Your son will say,
“Daddy, what's that?” and you will laugh and
you will read this poem to him.
from
Darius V.
Dear Teletubbies,
How's the weather there? It's winter here.
The ducks are flying south now. Wow it's raining
ducks. Literally, it's hunting season here. Is pretty
dangerous weather to be out there with gunshots
and ducks falling from the sky. I gotta go
catch a duck before they're all gone. Wish
me luck.
Sincerely,
Jason
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Memory Poems
Ms. Jones, 3rd grade
The Funeral
Krista C.
My older cousin, dead.
I may not see him again,
the sickness in his eye,
he feels so sad,
the sadness in his eyes.
He feels no one is there.
We love him very much.
We still miss him, of course,
but the worst memory
is the dead body of him.
I'm thinking his body arose
to heaven, feeling good. He is
fun to play with. I miss
him very much.
Birthday...Birthday, My Birthday
Jennifer H.
I love my birthday. I was
turning six. My cake looks so
yummy. No-o-o! My cousin put
frosting on my hair. So I
put frosting on his forehead.
My aunt gave me $100
for my birthday. I was
running around for it. I
love birthdays.
All the Memories
Andrena M.
All of the memories
passed by so fast.
Like when the
student teacher
left the school,
or when I went
to Disney World
when I was four
years old. Also
that my family
celebrated my
second birthday.
All these
memories
are so great.
It's great
that my
memories are
from the past.
Sssnake!
Daniel S.
As the yellow
heavy long python
wrapped around my neck,
as scared as I
can be,
I stood still.
The snake with its flicking tongue
staring at me.
I wriggled in fear.
My fears overtook me.
It tried to dig into my skin
to slurp my blood like juice.
As the camera took my picture,
as scared as I can be,
never this fierce
has my fear overtaken me.
Wisconsin Dells
Angela Y.
When I get in the water
I start to splash and
I get wet. Then I go for
a big splash. After that,
I like to cuddle with the
towel and sleep.
Mr. Sandlass, 4th grade
Pokagon State Park
Stephen D.
As soon as I got to Pokagon State Park
I went down the quarter-mile tobaggon run.
It was so scary, I was screaming louder
than anyone. After that, I got ice cream
and root beer.
The next day, we went cross-country skiing.
I fell down eight times and lost my skis seven times.
Then I went on the toboggan run four times. It
was still very scary. The next day, we hit the
road.
My Birthday!!
Kayla H.
I got many presents
and there was many friends.
I was turning eight
and I had a strawberry cake.
It was the best
and I forgot the rest.
Niagara Falls
Sherme M.
It was far away
but I got there
just in one car
with a lot of excited
people. The visit was
fun but the drive
was boring.
It was very very beautiful
in front of blue
gleaming water which
was such a beautiful sight.
Untitled (Memory Poem)
Diana P.
One day I went to school.
I was in second grade.
Then my teacher came.
I met new friends.
It was a day. Then
I had report
cards. My class went
on field trips. End of the
year, I
was a great student.
B-day Was Weird
Vivian T.
When I was a little girl I had
a birthday. I got a tea
set my mom got me.
Later then I lost it. I
was afraid my mom
will yell at me.
Turned out my mom
put it in the toy box. I
thought, what a relief.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Food Poems






The only thing better than eating food, is writing about it, so this week, I decided to bring in Virgil Suárez's "Mango Eating in America." Suárez writes about his childhood in Cuba, and how delicious the mangoes tasted in his native country. Students were asked why Suárez might prefer Cuban mangoes to American ones, and their reasons -- they taste better (sweeter), they remind him of home, they're bigger -- were all excellent starting points for writing poems on a number of suggested food themes.
Ms. Jones, 3rd grade
The Orange
Michelle A.
The orange is
refreshing and
delicious. I
think of it as an
orange piece of heaven.
It used to be my
favorite color. It
shines, it could make
me blind. Sometimes
by the summer shine.
Pretty as a pear
with a flair or an
apple that is taffy.
Thank you for having
the orange.
Banana
Devlin H.
Banana,
banana,
I will use you to call
my friend. I adore your squishiness,
your squishiness. Your friend is
orange. He is sweet and juicy.
Banana,
banana,
you are royal.
Banana,
banana,
I peel your bright yellow skin.
Then take a big bite of your
white tasty insides. I chase after
my favorite fruit. You the wonderful
banana.
My Favorite Berry
David L.
Hello strawberries
You're the best berries
I have seen
You give me joy
You give me peace
You give me everything
I need
Nachos
Aya S.
I like the cheese
It smells good
I like the meat
Crunch, crunch, crunch
It's delicious
I like the chips
Ms. Goode, 5th grade
C. C.
Georel A.
Staring into the distance.
Only seeing red stripes and white.
Looking.
A holiday candy.
Sweet sensations.
Not much blasts.
A candy cane.
So boring.
Just created.
Why not any other candy?
What about fruit?
Sigh.
Why am I writing bout candy canes?
I'm thinking of a candy cane blaster.
Shoots out yogurt.
Sigh.
I would give anything for something yummy.
At least, something worthy.
Which food?
Something.
Something other than red and white.
Something non-sweet.
Candy canes. No.
Tomatoes
Teksong E.
Tomatoes,
the stuff that you put on your burgers,
which also goes on salads,
what makes up your ketchup,
what you use,
to get out the smell of a skunk,
what strange fruit,
of how it is mistaken for a vegetable.
Grapes
Camila M.
Grapes so purple and
sweet. The round mushiness
but those dumb seeds are
the only bad thing about
them. So sweet it can
take you all the way
to heaven in just
one bite.
Purple my favorite
color, always reminds
me of the beautiful
grape. Me and my
friends always make
delicious grape juice
freshly mushed. Oh
beautiful grapes.
Mr. Sandlass, 4th grade
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Stephen D.
A peanut butter sandwich
is a kind of food
that is made of a different food.
It tastes like peanuts and bread
because that's what it is.
Most people like it with jelly,
but I like it just with peanut butter.
Everyone in here knows peanut butter
sandwiches are my favorite food
because I bring one to lunch every
day.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Cindy L.
I love strawberries covered
in chocolate, it is so
sweet. I would have it
for breakfast, lunch and
dinner. It can be messy.
I ate it once and I
was covered in juice and
chocolate. Try it, it is so
good.
Bananas
Toni S.
It is squishy
and gooey, it can
be eaten any way,
fried, cooked or even
by itself, a
banana can be a
great food for
those who like it.
A banana is my favorite
fruit and it gets me
very full.
Apples
Calvin T.
Apples, they are remarkable
change colors every time
when you bite into their core
it must be juicy, sour or crunchy
they remake each other by seeds
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Color Poems
Ms. Jones, 3rd grade
Colors That Are Fast and Slow
Naomi G.
A car is red and fast.
A dog is black and fast when it
runs and slow when it is walking.
A ball is blue and fast.
A turtle is green and it is very
slow to get anywhere.
I have seen a lizard and it looks
like it is a dragon and it is
green.
I do not know if it is fast
or slow.
And a clock is slow in any
color.
Blue
Aleena I.
I blue to my house. I am sad. I see my
house. It looks blue. I go to my porch. The sky
is dark blue. It is raining hard. I feel blue.
All I can see is blue, even what isn't. Blue does
not encourage me, not even the least but.
Pink
Isabella K.
Pink is my heart I draw.
Pink smells like pink puppies.
I see a girl with pink hair.
She leaves the store with pink everything.
I see a pink clock that ticks Pink!
Pink!
I hear pink everywhere.
Don't you like pink?
Blue
Asala M.
Blue is colorful.
The sky is bright blue.
The smell of the blueberries.
The taste of the blue.
It gets out of bed in the morning.
Just like you should.
Blue is cool.
White
Jerry T.
White is blank
ready for you
to fill it with color.
White is never the same,
it is always ready to change.
White is a sponge
that takes in color.
White will blend,
and whiten any color.
White is nothing,
but at the same time everything.
Ms. Goode, 5th grade
Blue
Rezwan C.
Blue is like dark
Blue is cold
freeze
freezy
Blue is shiny
shines the sky
Blue is sour
Blue is amazing
Blue is paint
Blue is powerful
Blue is thunder
Blue is ecstatic
Blue is magnetful
Blue is water
Blue gives you power
Blue is ice-cream
Blue is glad
Blue is stars
Blue is happiness
Pink
Edina H.
The whole room is pink.
It's excited and happy.
Its heart is full of joy.
Outside a pink chair is in a store, in a corner.
It's alone and sad.
There is a huge heap on its back.
Pink is happy and sad.
I am pink.
Turquoise
Sharon M.
Turquoise is the sea.
Maybe a headband.
Or it could be on me.
The sky turquoises after sunrise.
So bright I can play with her all day.
We have fun and I never get bored.
You should have turquoise
As a friend
Like her or me!
Pink
Brenda Q.
Pink glitters into the night.
Sweetens the cake with color.
Yellow despises the new red of the
rainbow.
Pink sadly turns red in
the night.
Red didn't understand the sadness
of the world.
But pink does.
Mr. Sandlass, 4th grade
Chartreuse, Glory Color
Madison B.
Chartreuse, what a color
Chartreuse, like a tennis ball
Chartreuse, glory color
The color that nobody thinks
about, the color of eyes
It smells like morning
dew
Tastes like stained glass
Sounds like tree branches
Chartreuse, glory color
Green
Cindy L.
Green is the leaves on
the tree. Green is like
fruit. Green is the color
of birds far away.
Green is the color of
learning. Green is the
water of the sea.
The color reminds
me of summer, and
things in bloom. Green
is the things outside.
Green is the world.
Blue Sea
Darius V.
I see the sea is blue,
I hear the sea's waves crashing,
I feel the sea's water on my toes,
I smell the salty air of the sea,
And I taste the sea's fish.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Collaborative Poems
Monday, December 10, 2007
Body Part Poems
Ms. Jones, 3rd grade
My Pinky
Michelle A.
I can't see it
but I can feel
it. For me it looks
nice and soft but it
is hard and I don't
care. It is pretty
and pink. It is small
and cute. Pinky, you
help me live. Also
you help me have
five fingers. Thank
you Pinky.
My Heart
Isabella K.
My heart is pounding fast because
I have so much excitement. My heart
is beating fast because I'm home. My
heart is pounding fast because I'm happy.
My heart is happy as me. I think I am going
to die.
The Skull
Sophie L.
Boom! I fall down the
stairs. There is a big bump
on my head. Inside my head
there is a malfunction
in my skull. Now my head
is cold and painful, the
malfunction is going crazy.
I cannot control myself,
someone stop me from run-
ning into that Boom!
wall.
Heart of Love
Andrena M.
Your heart is full of love
and relaxation and not sadness.
To be mad you have to fight it.
You're on the beach in Hawaii looking at
the sunset, and lay on the nice and soft
sand on a towel. Hear the waves
of the water.
Untitled (Body Part Poem)
Daniel S.
Beneath my shirt and other clothes
There is my heart,
Beating,
Beating,
Beating,
Beating,
all day long.
Faster
faster
slower
slower.
It never stops.
When it stops,
say goodbye.
Why? What happens,
you die!
Ms. Goode, 5th grade
Untitled (Body Part Poem)
Alex B.
Dear colon, you look
like a piece of pasta. You
are so wiggly and small.
You are our trash man from
a different world. You are
a colon from a different
world.
The Rib Cage
Kush G.
The rib cage is
most important of all. It protects
anything that is in.
In there is my stomach,
other things and your good loving
heart.
The rib cage is
great and it protects too.
The greatest part in your
body that we love so.
Teeth
Yusra M.
You may not care about them
but if you didn't have the
white little things in your
mouth you can't chew, you
can't be able to talk sometimes.
I wish teeth were perfect.
I hate the dentist, it is just
a waste of time even if you
really need it. Teeth are just
as important a body
part than the other teeth
are as fragile as a six billion
dollar glass on the edge of the
Sears Tower. They're unusual but sort
of nice to have.
The Backbone (Back)
Sammy R.
It's big, hard, rough.
It moves back and forth.
It can ache.
If you don't have one
you will be shorter than ever.
I lay on my back to
wash my hair in the
bath tub.
Mr. Sandlass, 4th grade
The Backbone
Waleed A.
How come I can't have
a good life without a
backbone? It looks like a crocodile
sticking out of your skin.
How can you stand up
without a backbone? Is the
backbone white or blue? I like
it when you have a backbone
because I can't even fall or
stand up or move or drive
a car. That's why I like backbone.
Our Hands
Stephen D.
Our hands can do a lot,
They can even tie a knot.
They are very strong,
They help us swim through a bog.
With our hands we can swing a bat,
We can also pick up a rat.
Our hands are very, very white,
Yes, these hands belong to Reginald
Dwight.
How the Heart Feels
Klea K.
The heart feels.
The heart is all emotions.
The heart makes you feel.
The heart feels.
The heart takes over all body parts.
When you kiss you kiss with the heart.
The heart keeps all emotions.
The heart feels.
The heart is the shape of love.
If you love, you love with the heart.
The heart keeps all emotions.
The heart feels.
The heart is your life.
Your heart is the kindest body part.
Because it is the most important body part.
Which means it saves your life.
That's how the heart feels.
Eye
Cindy L.
The eye is unknown
once you go past it.
Something makes colors.
Something makes light.
Too much light makes pupil
close. Too much dark makes
it open. It opens wide and
freely. Amazed we are one
and all of the eye.
The Hand
Isis M.
For the people each has different
color skin. On each hand there
are like a V shape. Each line on your
finger is about 1 cm. You use your
hand for holding pen and paper
that you give to Mr. Dean or Mr. Sandlass.
Mouth
Yura S.
I like my mouth. Without a mouth I would
not talk. You would not be able to talk to your
teacher. So you won't have any homework, hip, hip,
hooray!
Thumb
Jason Z.
The thumb bone's the smallest finger
on your hand. I like my thumb so much.
It helps me a lot. I could never pick up anything
without it. It helps me grab stuff. My
favorite thing about my thumb is video
games, sports, and writing stuff. My thumb
bone is my most helpful bone. (Besides the
heart.) (And brain.) (And lungs.) (And intestines.)
(And I don't want to name all the other things.)