Hands on Stanzas

Anthology of Student Verse
 
Welcome to the Hands on Stanzas Anthology of Student Verse. Thanks to the generous support of the Boeing Corporation this year's Hands on Stanzas Anthology has been published electronically allowing us to include a poem from each and every one of our students. That's close to 2000 poems this year!

To navigate the anthology either click the students’ grade level or the name of their school below.

Grade: 3  |   4  |   5  |   6  |   7  |   8  |   9  |   10  |   11  |   12

School:
Alcott Elementary
Belding Elementary
Bell Elementary
Burbank Elementary
George Washington Elementary
Richard Henry Lee Elementary
McPherson Elementary
Moos Elementary
Pilgrim Lutheran School
Price Elementary
Shields Elementary
Skinner Classical School
Solomon Elementary
Taft Academic Center
Tarkington School of Excellence
Walter Payton College Prep High School

 
Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Janet Fenton
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


Untitled
a poem by Abigail C., Grade 8

Why do volcanoes erupt? Is it because nobody talks to them? How do they know they are alone? They get mad and suddenly erupt, but sometimes it’s an accident. They don’t mean to hurt people. All of a sudden I am a big volcano. I have just erupted and people are running away.



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Janet Fenton
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


Take No Names
a poem by Adalberto S., Grade 8

Over the past five years I’ve uploaded

more than 200 pictures to Facebook

some are of me.



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Janet Fenton
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


Pollution
a poem by Adriana G., Grade 8

I feel sick my eyes are itchy

I live by a factory that makes

bread



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Carl Stalla
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


Untitled
a poem by Alberto J., Grade 8

Every stressed word is like

an ice ax, trying to gain

purchase.



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroya
Teachers: Mrs. Mulcrone
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


The Water is the Sky
a poem by Alejandra B., Grade 8

The water is the sky. Where the air reaches its top and the sun sinks in. The number six is not welcome by anyone, not even chosen. Then the sky breaks right into the mountain and a white sheet covers it. A sheet that is cold and will stay in its peak until the end of days.



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Janet Fenton
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


Untitled
a poem by Alondra D., Grade 8

Purple or white          petals

are stored in your eyes.

 



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Janet Fenton
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


She Worries
a poem by Alyssa F., Grade 8

Her eyes have not seen happiness these past weeks/months. She tries to but she can't. Worrying that if she does she'll cry and let her daughter down. I want her to know it's ok to cry sometimes but if she does she'll cry a river. I just want her to know it's ok. My birthday will be soon. We have no money,
no cake
but it's ok as long as she's happy
I'm happy.



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Janet Fenton
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


Jasper Johns -- Periscope
a poem by Ana A., Grade 8

Periscope so sad, I see

myself, the colors.

Why you and I might



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Carl Stalla
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


Elmo
a poem by Andres F., Grade 8

Elmo was at the prime of his time.

Short and round with his

big goofy smile. Was there



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Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Christine Arroyo
Teachers: Mrs. Mulcrone
School: Richard Henry Lee Elementary


Untitled
a poem by Andrew P., Grade 8

The warmth means the flowers bloom

earlier and the busy honeybees

can work longer days. What’s in



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