"I just wanted to say/THANK you" - The Chicago Poetry Center

“I just wanted to say/THANK you”

This week was all about gratitude. After reading Kobe Bryant’s “Dear Basketball” (which sent the 8th grade into a very animated side quest about who the GOAT really is) students at Lawndale said thank you to the non-human things they love. Through letters, lyrics, and odes, poets spoke to everything from sleep to school to Benjamins. Thank you Lawndale for these gems!

Ms. Barker 6th Grade

Dear Sleep by Morgan H.

I love the way you
make me feel safe
in the good the moments
of getting fresh out
the shower then you
calling my name I
just feel so okay
when going to sleep

Compete Away by Ji'mia W.

Dear Cheer,
Ye click like two best friends.
You push me to do my best even when I feel
like I want to give up. I love how one
day you will push me to compete at a
competition.
I also love the way you keep me going,
the way you make me stronger, and the
way you make me competitive. I love
how when I have to scream and yell
I can express all of my anger.
The way my emotions just float away
when I’m near you. The way you
exhaust me. Just so I can get
a good night’s SLEEP.
So I just wanted to say,
THANK you.

For School Para la Escuela by Nikol Q.

The school is very beautiful
I always see it in Spring
Every day is beautiful
like a floral blanket
a great destination
has a beautiful school
she guides me along the path.
like a star.
when I study I begin to know
and I do it with enthusiasm
I begin to know the world and its reason
at school I have a destiny
and it is safe and quiet.

la escuela es muy hermosa
la veo siempre primaveral
todos los días es preciosa
como un manto floral.
un gran destino
tiene la escuela bella
elle me guía por el camino
como una estrella.
al estudiar empiezo a saber
y lo hago con una illusión
comienzo a conocer el mundo y su razón
en la escuela tengo un destino
y es seguro y tranquilo

Ms. Barker 8th Grade

Money by Zaria G.

Money helps me achieve my goals it also
helps me when I sleep when I think about
money it keeps me very neat green means
go red means stop every time I get money
you know it don’t drop the world
goes blank every time I see green
I dream about money it keeps me
in between money is a goal I always
achieve every time I go to school
you know I move clean.
Dear money,
I love you with all
my heart every time I make you
just know I didn’t stop 50’s and
100’s is all I make catch up with
me it’s not too late Amiri and Different
Designer das all I wear I keep it all
with me everywhere.

Genshin Impact by Sanajiah M.

Dear Genshin Impact,
you make
me so happy and calm
I play you all the time
and if you were a person
we would have the time of
our lives in your world
we will explore your whole
world and fight monsters.
Love,
Sanajiah