A Celebration - The Chicago Poetry Center

A Celebration

This past Monday was a bittersweet day at Lawndale. Our last session marked the end of a residency full of games, conversations, and yes — poetry. We also had the entire 8th grade reunited for their final workshop, which was fitting. Students received class chapbooks of their work (courtesy of my printer and a resilient stapler), with pieces they chose and submitted themselves. They spent the class time autographing each other’s publications, followed by a final reading. Check out the chapbook covers below:

It has been nothing short of an honor working with these students and reading their poems. Ms. Barker and Ms. Fouser have been wonderful collaborators and thought partners throughout the journey. Before leaving, each poet offered me a favorite line from another classmate’s poem, creating these final class centos.

Ms. Barker 6th Grade

"Class Cento" by Everyone

This summer you need a gallon

of good vibes to be around me

We are starting to die slowly

Many people got trapped

I come from a place where sounds matter

Portraits are stunning

Llego el verano, llego el calor, frutas

y helados todo el día sol

Pose for pictures

Blinding and dazzling at me.

Me siento pequeño al lado tuyo. Tus

besos me llevan a la luna.

Ms. Barker 8th Grade

"Class Cento" by Everyone

Change to stop racism

We can help and change future lives

Lemon drops

I remember when I stopped playing the game

I remember my grandma died

SRT I’m going fast 12

I cry sometimes but nobody knows

Only to my friends I can feel myself changing

Where I’m from everyone hopes to make their family right

or pray they’re never found in a ditch.

I hate getting judged for being black

I walk alone through

The storm nobody knows