Season’s Greetings from
the Chicago Poetry Center!
While Chicago’s weather has been unseasonably warm this month, Chicago Poetry Center’s Poets in Residence take every opportunity to celebrate all that winter has to offer. Last week, we returned to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Milwaukee, WI with a Winter Wonderland-themed virtual Pop-Up Assembly. Poet Timothy David Rey kicked off the performance with an ode to his favorite place for holiday gifts: the dollar store. With a brand new poem that he wrote specifically for the MLK Elementary students, Noel Quiñones shared why sledding is his favorite winter pastime. Jyreika Guest was thrilled about her second virtual Pop-Up Assembly at the school and performed a poem about the comforts of home.
The Pop-Up Assembly ended with a special seasonal rendition of the InstaPoem interactive slam game. Before the assembly, students answered questions like, “If you were a winter weather accessory, which would you be?” and “What’s one wish you have for the new year?” Based on the one student’s survey answers, the poets wrote wintery “InstaPoems” and the students voted for their favorite one.
Closer to home, 2nd grade students at Edgewater’s Swift Elementary got into the holiday spirit by making greeting cards for their Poet in Residence, Leslie Reese. Some students even showed off a new literacy skill that Leslie taught them by including similes in their cards. Accompanied by an illustration of “Ms. Leslie,” Kai R. wrote, “You are beautiful like the stars in the sky. You are sweet like vanilla.” Shishir K. describes Leslie as “bright as the sun but not / yellow, stylish as different patterns / making learning fun.” What better way to start winter break than with similes and season’s greetings?
Poet in Residence Spotlight: Teresa Dzieglewicz
Our annual fundraiser is live!
January 19:
Blue Hour reading series and writing workshop
Join us for a night of poetry in collaboration with Kundiman as we present the Blue Hour reading series and generative writing workshop. Hosted by series curator Marty McConnell, January’s events will feature poet Andy Sia and celebrate the release of Matthew Olzmann’s new collection, Constellation Route.
To learn more, visit the Blue Hour event page. Event registration links are forthcoming.
Thank you for your support in 2021.
We wish you a safe and happy new year!
