All posts in Skinner West

Fast Forward

Last week, we read John Yau‘s “Something to Look Forward To,” and right away students recognized the use of repetition—not just words or phrases this time, but whole lines! What was especially interesting was […]

Here Be Dragons

Kay Ryan‘s poem “Token Loss” is super short and compact, but it nonetheless sparked some very lively conversations. The ‘story’ of the poem seemed familiar to some students, with its echoes of The Hobbit […]

To Bee or Not to Bee

In classes last week we read Jean Toomer‘s poem, “Beehive.” We first clarified who was speaking in the poem, then discussed what a drone is (and does). There’s a lot of repetition in the […]

Shhh!

Library Lovers Day coincides with another, more famous holiday, so this week we read “In the Library” by Charles Simic. The poem starts, “There’s a book called / ‘A Dictionary of Angels,’” and one […]

Ask the Dust

This week, we read Julia Alvarez‘s poem, “Dusting.” I asked the students who was speaking, and when they said a little girl, I responded how did they know? If the poem didn’t have the […]

Articles and Incorporation

Last week, I began my residency with the 4th graders. I had many of these students in 2nd grade, and it was interesting to see what a difference two years can make! I recognized […]

Poetry Is…

Last week, we had our final (?!?) poetry classes of the residency. Students had asked me over the ten weeks to share some of my own work, so I brought in a few poems […]

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Before spring break, we had our penultimate classes, reading and discussing Alberto Ríos‘ “Don’t Go in the Library.” The poem starts, claiming, “The library is dangerous,” and Ríos repeats that same line toward the […]

Know Your Arches!

Patricia Lockwood‘s poem called “The Arch” made for interesting discussions last week. After hearing it read aloud, I asked who was speaking—the poet, or someone/something else? Is personification being used here? We examined the […]

Feed the Meter

Quiet different from last week’s poem was this week’s selection, by Edna St. Vincent Millay, called “Afternoon on a Hill.” While straightforward, with relatively ‘simple’ language, it’s nonetheless rather multilayered and deep. We discussed […]

Donate

Support our student poets today!

CONNECT WITH US!

Twitter Facebook-f Instagram

STUDENT POETRY

Click on a school name below to browse student poems from current school partners.

POETRY ARCHIVE

Click on a school name below to browse student poems from our archive.

RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS

TESTIMONIALS

“Writing poetry makes me feel like I can see myself, like I can see my reflection, but not in a mirror, in the world. I write and I know I can be reflected.”
-Oscar S.

“Writing poetry makes me feel free.”
-Buenda D.

“Writing poetry is like your best friend.”
-Jessica M.

Search

CONTACT US

General Inquiries
info@poetrycenter.org

Programs (School & Organizational)
programs@poetrycenter.org

Reading Series and Events:
curator@poetrycenter.org

The Chicago Poetry Center is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
FEIN: 23-7400515

SEND US A POSTCARD

Chicago Poetry Center
1448 E. 52nd St, #256
Chicago, IL 60615

I’M FROM THE CITY LIGHTS / STREAMING OUT IN THE NIGHT / AND HUGE SKYSCRAPERS / TOWERING OVER THE LAKE – MELISSA E., 7TH GRADE POET