Hands on Stanzas | The Poetry Center of Chicago

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: Sandra Ann Caudill
Teachers: Linda Murray, Erin Furgason, Gillian Barr, Leanne Luczak
School: Alexander Graham Bell Elementary

From the Blue
a poem by , 2011 Anthology of Student Verse

I feel like I'm floating in a
big sea and when mother and
father call I don't come to thee
I just sit in the little sea. I see
a bird I think he really
loves me. Oh no the fire is burying
me now I go deep, deep, deep in
the sea.

Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Sandra Ann Caudill
Teachers: Linda Murray, Erin Furgason, Gillian Barr, Leanne Luczak
School: Alexander Graham Bell Elementary

Fear
a poem by Abby H., 2011 Anthology of Student Verse

night
I step in my unlighted house
I hear rustling
voices, in my head
I'm scared stiff
dark
maturing
growing up
fear is defeat
I learn
I'm safe
as night
approaches
my
fear
lessens.

	Angela Kim, Poet-in-Residence Principal: Ms. Heather Yutzy Teachers: Ms. Navrocki School: Belding Elementary The Flow a poem by Abdelhadi A., Grade 4 Today I am a horse galloping around seeing nothing but only the ground yesterday I was nothing but a twig tomorrow I am a giant tree- this morning I was water flowing through a stream last night I imagined I was The world read more »

	Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence Principal: Susan Moy Teachers: Sandlass School: Solomon Elementary Untitled a poem by Abdullah S., Grade 4 Big wide sumo wrestler Multiplication is torture Music takes me to the ground read more »

Marissa Spalding, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Sandra Ann Caudill
Teachers: Linda Murray, Erin Furgason, Gillian Barr, Leanne Luczak
School: Alexander Graham Bell Elementary

My favorite land!
a poem by Abigail G., 2011 Anthology of Student Verse

My favorite color is the color
of the open sky.
My favorite day is the day
when everyone is free! My
favorite window is where
the water glass is filled!
My favorite food is when
all the taste comes out!
My favorite dream is where
the clouds are floating with
me dancing on them! My favorite
activity is when I'm on the paper!
My favorite time is when
the lights black out on
me! My life is a drawing. My
favorite sound is the sound
of the ghost on mid-air. My
favorite texture is where

Angela Kim, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Ms. Heather Yutzy
Teachers: Ms. Navrocki
School: Belding Elementary

They Love the Birds
a poem by Adam D., Grade 4

They love the birds
Chirping at the beach
He loves the trees
Changing colors at spring they
Love poems by Lisa Jarnot she loves
The sound of the
Waves at the beach.
The wind blowing at
The trees
He loves to do
The work out
With nature.

	Larry O. Dean, Poet-in-Residence Principal: Susan Moy Teachers: Sandlass School: Solomon Elementary Untitled a poem by Adam S., Grade 4 I am happy that I am here! Things make me happy to learn poetry. I am happy to be here to learn! read more »

Larry Dean, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: David Maring
Teachers:
School: Pilgrim Lutheran School

Spring
a poem by Addie S., 2011 Anthology of Student Verse

Small buds poke through the  
dusty earth. Small children come to 
parks more and more. The pointy grass 
turns from brown to light green to 
bright green. After school bike rides 
start up again and shorts start going 
on to people. Lemonade stands open up 
again. 
Spring is like a new life, a new 
earth, and a fresh start to life.

	Angela Kim, Poet-in-Residence Principal: Ms. Heather Yutzy Teachers: Mr. Merrill School: Belding Elementary I Am a poem by Adrian J., Grade 4 I am an artist when I follow an alien I am an artist when I find a face In a cloud or watch the light I change the shape of a Hill read more »

Angela Kim, Poet-in-Residence
Principal: Ms. Heather Yutzy
Teachers: Ms. Navrocki
School: Belding Elementary

What I Do
a poem by Ahsan I., Grade 4

I am a brain struggling.
I am a shadow behind a bush.
I am a tree cooling down,
I am a ghost running around,
I am a hero rescuing an animal,
I am a hand that's catching,
I am a glass with water,
I am a game that is broken,
I am food that's warm,
I am a house that protects,
I am an animal eating,
I am a cats brain.
I am a horse's heart,
I am a duck in water,
I am the sun going down.