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

 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Rodriguez
School: Shields Elementary


The Wind
a poem by Adeline S., Grade 5

I listen to the wind but at times
the wind comes to me like a
racing car. And the wind is so
cold that I think I'm going to
freeze in the middle of the street
and when the wind comes to
me I feel like the wind is blowing
me away from my own home.



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Maxwell
School: Shields Elementary


Elephant
a poem by Adrian M., Grade 5

If I was an elephant I will
see the whole world and see what
is going on above me and see what's
going on around me. I will play
around in the water with other
elephants. I will play fight with
other elephants. I will walk
around the world with other elephants
and eat plants and drink water.



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Montoya
School: Shields Elementary


The Perfect World
a poem by Alexis A., Grade 5

If I will ever be able
to build a world, I will
build a country called
perfect world. I will put machines,
airplanes, a river, a huge store,
a car in the air. If I will
build this I will call
it perfect world.



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Maxwell
School: Shields Elementary


I Am a Monkey
a poem by Alexsandra R., Grade 5

I'm a monkey jumping
to tree to tree and
I can see a lot of
animals but some
animals are not
the same because
they don't jump
tree to tree and
only the monkey
and I can
from the tree
a big world I
can see persons
and I see
some zebras
and elephants
and I don't
know why they
don't jump from
tree to tree
and I like being a monkey.



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Maxwell
School: Shields Elementary


I Hate My Yellow Shirt
a poem by Alina C., Grade 5

I hate my yellow shirt
cause it's easy to get stains
on it. I hate my yellow shirt
it makes me feel so yellow
like a big sun!

I hate my yellow shirt
cause my mother makes
me wear it on school's
picture day.

The reason I hate my
yellow shirt is that it has
a picture of a bear and all my
friends make fun of me!

I wish I never got that
shirt on Christmas day!



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Montoya
School: Shields Elementary


Downtown Chicago
a poem by Amores M., Grade 5

the big ben
is like a tunnel
but with a
nother side
they look at
their self
the kids running
as they
fall people
in love
with view
between
them a woman
stands like a statue



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Rodriguez
School: Shields Elementary


Untitled
a poem by Andrea P., Grade 5

I'm afraid of bees
I'm scared of scary movies
I like when it comes up to
Christmas or Valentine's Day
cause of pretty stuff that could
happen.
But when it comes to
summer vacation everyone is
happy and excited because
some go on vacation and
others don't.
I'm scared of the 1st day of
school cause you don't know
anyone but after day it comes
to happiness and to eager.
I like to read chapters
of books or sit by my
family or read a short haiku or
write a short poem with
someone of my family.



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Rodriguez
School: Shields Elementary


Clean Up Clean Up
a poem by Andrea R., Grade 5

I close my eyes and I see my room
when I go to bed or when I wake up.
The day that I hate is Saturday
because that day I have to clean up.
I see my toys all over the floor.
I see my socks on the top of the TV.
I see clothes all over the floor
but I am not scared because I know some day
I will finish.



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Montoya
School: Shields Elementary


Synaesthesia
a poem by Andres E., Grade 5

Love smells like roses blooming the air is sha-
king. Love looks like red cardinals flying.
Anger looks dark with fear. Peace feels like you're in
a dream nice and smooth.
Fear is like a person stabbing your heart.
Boredom just can't wait for a new day
to arrive.
Happiness tastes like you getting married.
Beauty is when you taste happiness in life
and you say
goody.
Red tastes like hot Cheetos.
Love tastes like a box of chocolates in your
mouth nice and smooth.
Anger looks like fighting.



read more »
 
Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Philip Mark Salemi
Teachers: Maxwell
School: Shields Elementary


Untitled
a poem by Andrew F., Grade 5

I am happy for gifts.
Thanksgiving and a house to
live in.
I am blessed for a family.



read more »