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.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Modern take on Haiku

2nd Period

Rena H.

Sun lies on the hill
soldiers get up to go
crushed flowers under soil.

Patrick G.

We all watched
with silence as
the snow fell.

Amber H.
Haiku

Later and later
the flowers bloom and the sun
rises in these cold times.

5th Period

Antonio S.

Ladybug so bright
go fly away
to the bird's mouth


Victor M.

Trees growing
buds sprouting
the leaves will fall in time.

Joanna K.

The sun beats down
warming the earth and
burning the skin.

7th period

Luis G.

Valentines Day
The boys cheeks
are red as the rose

Alexis O.

The blossom
in the spring blooms with the
sweetest ease.

Danton V.
Summer

skating
kool-aid and
hot day, and hot girls

Jonathan I.
United States

Oppression of kings
and queens. Tea tipped over
revolution won.

Aura E.
Haiku

A honey whisper,
the beat of the weathered drum -
sunset is rising.

Maple, O Maple!
How long have you fought
with the willow tree?

8th Period

Jes M

Japanese poems
we were reading some of them
they were pretty weird.

Sai M.

The rusty pound
a dog wags his tail
to get adopted

Rose W.

Bright lights make it hard to see
the cars rush by
in Chicago.