Our City/Ourselves - The Chicago Poetry Center

Our City/Ourselves

7th Grade students created city-themed group exquisite corpse poems after reading Lucille Clifton’s, in the inner city, and Freshman students also experimented with the concept of ‘line’ by creating their life story in only 24 words and then narrowing it all down to one word that most defined them.

Lesson Note: A reviewer once noted upon reading Clifton’s poetry that “We see a poetry so pared down that its spaces take on substance, become a shaping presence as much as the words themselves”

Ms. Munoz 7th Grade, Period 1

An Exquisite Corpse Audrey C., Sierra S., Megan W., Maggie D.

Rain falls over downtown, blurring the
windows
People run to their cars, as they try to get home

Along stone pathways, their numbers their tomb

Skyscrapers, touching the stars

Ms. Munoz 7th Grade, Period 3

Untitled Zora McD., Michelle M., Zuzanna P., Natalia D.

Tall skyscrapers & bright lights

A ferris wheel fading into the night
Crowds surrounding buildings
Old wondering what’s happened to the youth

Ms. Munoz 9th Grade, Period 5

One Word Poem Johnny G.

House

One Word Poem Benjamin G.

Good

One Word Poem Carolina S.

Family

One Word Poem Ava D.

Music

Ms. Munoz 7th Grade, Period 7

Untitled Brian C., Jovanny S., Christopher P.

Chicago, a place

Chicago, named after a snooze

‘A-Chicago’

It has history. Is wonderful

But still needs to be careful.

Don’t be freaked

Because they already shriek

So this city,

must be renewed.

Ms. Munoz 9th Grade, Period 8

One Word Poem Michael G.

Dare

One Word Poem Logan K.

Vacation

One Word Poem Claudia Z.

Softball