That's what makes me human... - The Chicago Poetry Center

That’s what makes me human…

Mario Benedetti’s poem, No Te Rindas has been a great addition to the curriculum arsenal. It’s always great when a poem can work across age groups because the message is so strong. For English class we discussed moments when you may have felt like giving up, and who the people were kept you strong, or moments when you may have had to help someone else be strong. After a great discussion, students got to work writing poems about resilience in the face of challenges. For our After School poetry club, we read Field Guide ending in a deportation by Marcello Hernandez Castillo and talked about the idea of confessional poetry. Most of my students had to leave early, so I suggested to my remaining poets that they try writing together. They did a great job on this group poem below. Enjoy this weeks poems!

Ms. Gualitos English Class

Don't Give Up Juan

Don’t give up on your dreams.
Keep your head up but don’t look back.
So you can be on track
You can’t stop now because stopping
now will bring you back. Chase your
dreams, so you can relax. Work hard
and stronger so you can have a good
life long dream. Never back down never give up.

After School Poetry Club

I Confess Jovany and Alex

I confess my feelings, trauma and myself
I want to tell you things no man should ever say
I don’t feel that I deserve what I’m working towards
I spend many nights awake on my bed, not knowing
if tomorrow will be better
I have been right and wrong, but it doesn’t matter
when it’s used to harm
It’s true that I’ve been dishonest, but that’s
what makes me human