What is a poem?

We started a brand new residency off at Nettelhorst this week with Mrs. Hempe and 2 of her 7th grade classrooms. Mrs. Hempe hosted another Poet-in-Resident last year, and we were excited to partner with her and the school again in 2026.

To kick off this new residency, students read through Marie Howe’s “Hurry” and learned about lines, line breaks, and stanzas. Students were then tasked to write their own poem about something an adult or sibling in their life has told them often and how they interpret this saying or advice.

Excited to see what additional poems these amazing students write over the next 9 weeks!

Mrs. Hempe's 7th Grade Class Group 1

They Taig F.

They say its easy
but I don’t get it

they say don’t worry
but how can I not?

they say It’s Not That Hard
but I can’t understand it

They say we don’t care
but I get that

They say it doesn’t matter
I get that too

They say focus on the positive
but I only see the negative.

They only see what They went through
not trying to understand what I go through.

That Deep Annie K.

The one moment when it’s only
me and my sister
When we walk home from dance.
I talk. Talk a lot.

When I complain,
Sometimes. I hear “It’s not that deep.”
But maybe it is
That Deep.
I don’t need advice just listen.
because for me, sometimes it is
“That Deep.”

You're Enough Abbey P.

don’t ever get down on yourself
you’re enough
even if you can’t do it
you’re enough
just faking it till you make it
is enough

No matter what you do
you’re enough and someone is
around you
don’t ever give up because
you’re enough
you’re always enough
don’t ever quit because
someone out there who
love you
and know that
you’re enough
even when you fail

Mrs. Hempe's 7th Grade Class Group 2

Tomorrow Addison K.

Goodnight! Love you!
Miss you till tomorrow!
till tomorrow
tomorrow

There is always
tomorrow until there is not
I’ll miss you till then too
Till I see you again
But when

Play Ball Gray BK.

Play ball
the bat
the ball
the glove

Play ball
night stars
music blasting
ride home

Get Out of My Room! Zoe S.

Get out of my room, says my sister
as I have my feet on the wood floor
near the doorframe, barely in her room
I said get out of my room, my sister
repeats as I peek into her room, with
books everywhere with random things
I know because I snuck in and
opened one once, erasing the evidence
I was there and then left her room.