This last week at Henry, we watched and read Ariana Brown’s poem “Ode to the City Bus.” Poets spent the day learning about extended metaphors and reviewed what an ode is. Each student was tasked with writing a poem about something they love about Chicago or any other city they have lived in!
Mrs. Carrion’s 7th Grade Class First
Jose R., “Dear Chicago”
Dear Chicago,
For the past 13 years, for every morning,
I have heard the echoes of the birds
chirping.
Jonny G., “Ode to McDonalds”
I love the smell of the fried and the
burger and the coffee.
I know I’m sad when I see the workers the
burger the fried, the chicken nuggets.
I know I’m home when I feel the hot and
juiciness of the fries the plastic wrapper
of the burgers and the coldness in the drink.
Zam P., “The City of Diversity”
There’s a city
Full of diversity.
Or as the tourists say
“The Windy City”
This city is full of
honking cars
all made up of the same things
on the inside.
Because in the end
they’re all the same
made of the same
diversity
The city feels like
a wilderness full of different
kinds of animals
or like a circus
were you’re waiting
to see much different things.
The city full of such
diversity
“Chicago.”
Yanelly M., “Tavern Syled Pizza”
This is Chicago’s best pizza
It’s in the place where all wild animals
harass the lake and where skyscrapers stay
The smell of Hot sizzling smell of cheese
go take a bite and sit on a bench
and one bit will give you happiness
beware of these ogres they will
take your slide because it’s that good
and they won’t give backs instead
keep it for themselves.
Gabriel H., “Dear Chicago”
Dear Chicago, home you are to me.
I’ll love Chicago and will express with glee.
The police sirens everywhere you go.
The day is more enjoyable when it goes by slow.
In every neighborhood, you’ll see townhouses.
No wonder Chicago is so familiar, it’s the same.
But that’s what makes it special, and I love it.
It reminds me of streets that looked familiar.
The aura in the air, smells like mixed food.
Reminds me of air fragrances, smells very good.
Camilla P., “A Chicago Night”
Whether it’s on a Friday
or weekend,
A Chicago Night.
the sounds of alarms,
sirens, or music
loud or quiet, a tornado siren
the beat and sound
the taps and rhythm
A Chicago Night, and
A Chicago party.
Like a party with a disco ball
a room full of LED lights
the cars in where red and blue
flash
where the music and yelling
comes from a concert
to police sirens in where I
can find some music.
to loud noises
it’d be yelling or crashes
to the alarms and sirens
loud music from the parties.
A Chicago Night
Where I find my music
Anywhere
and where I find peace.
Bryan P., “Chicago So Nice”
Chicago so nice Kobe moved here
Chicago so bad it has shootings
I could hear with my ear
It’s also fun without guns
I go buy burger buns
Chicago so nice Walt Disney was here
Chicago so bad it has a bad neighborhood
Chicago is better when you can walk outside
So then you can play on the big slide
And maybe hide
Chicago so nice artists come and sing for us
but Chicago so bad you might not take the bus
And maybe your ticket is taken by a bit of wind
You can’t go so you don’t win
At last you go home and sleep.
Mrs. Carrion’s Second 7th Grade Class
Umai S., “Ode to the Food-Pizza”
I hear the sound of the the sound of steps
because it sounds like a bit of pizza
When I look at it, it’s always the best.
The smell of the pizza that will always be there
When I touch it, it can be soft or hard
But in the end,
it was the best feeling ever
to just try something tasty
I will always want to eat it.
Joselin I., “Downtown”
Downtown the light when it’s night outside,
The sound of cars honking it makes me feel a type
of way that I can’t explain. The stores there’s so many
stores that you can go and can find so many random stuff.
Navy Pier there can be so many carnivals or
festivals. That can be fun. The sound by people. The
smell that goes throughout the city.
The rides of going to downtown the feeling
of going there.
Olivia C., “Chicago’s Lake”
Lake Michigan I love visiting you
your beautiful water movements
are like orchestra to my ears
your water can sometimes look clear
or have crystals from the sunlight
when I go high up it’s a beautiful view
Lake Michigan you’re more beautiful
when you’re in the dark and
the moon shines above you
when I jump in the water
you feel cold like ice
you make my skin have goosebumps
but I enjoy swimming in the water
Lake Michigan I love visiting you.
Alexander B., “Ciudad de Chicago”
La ciudad de chicago
es muy hermasa
buena vista, buen
clima, un lugar
adecuado para viviy
Un gran lago que es
como un mar, las
personas siempre van
alli a diverstire en
el verano con su familia.
Muy buena comida en
especial la pizza es
muy buena, el sonido
del aire que suena
siempre que pasa por
alli.
Tambie las tiendas, los
super mercados son
dema ciado grandes para
que mucha gente valla
y haga sus compras.
