About Hands on Stanzas
Hands on Stanzas, the educational outreach program of the Poetry Center of Chicago places professional, teaching Poets in residence at Chicago Public Schools across the city. Poets teach the reading, discussion, and writing of poetry to 3 classes over the course of 20 classroom visits, typically from October through April. Students improve their reading, writing, and public speaking skills, and participating teachers report improved motivation and academic confidence. You can contact Cassie Sparkman, Director of the Hands on Stanzas program, by phone: 312.629.1665 or by email: csparkman(at)poetrycenter.org for more information.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Postcard Haiku
Students in the Voice and Vision class today looked at examples of haiku. They were given a selection of artwork in the form of postcards and asked to create haiku or near haiku in response to images ranging from Franz Marc’s massive animals, Jacob Lawrence’s depictions of African American life and Japanese nature inspired wood-block prints among other things.
Most poems are untitled but are presented here with the painting title and artist.
Upon the heath of spring
we find our hero laughing at
the killing killing killing joke.
Vlad inspired by “Junior Wells” by Frederick Brown
I never forget
to forget is to kill him
he lives in pictures.
Michael inspired by “Dreams No. 2” by Jacob Lawrence
Bright skirts and dresses.
The uniform of summer.
The schoolyard music.
Anna inspired by “School’s Out” by Allan Rohan Crite
I’m running away angry
Fly me away on your dreams
Forget that which lags
Kelsey inspired by “Enchanted Ride” by Bob Thompson
You snuck in from the night time
Like frozen colors sneak onto
You now- glossy eyes
Camila inspired by Untitled abstract-artist unknown
Negro Men
Color wasted on
Negro men who got bulky
Hands trapped by massa.
Gabriel inspired by “Harvest Talk” by Charles Wilbert White
White snow turned golden
By the shining winter sun.
Hoofprints in the snow.
Anna inspired by “Mount Equinox, Winter” by Rockwell Kent
wild and untamed
broken by nothing is he
my heart envies him
Kelsey inspired by “The Blue Rider and his Horse” by Franz Marc
At the horizon
the sun is setting down on
the poor and withered farmer
Vlad inspired by “Seaweed Gatherers” by Edward Mitchell Bannister
Every night he took
off his happy face mask to
wait for his next show.
Gabriel inspired by “Self Portrait” by Malvin Gray Johnson
The strong crash of waves
tosses flecks of blue and green
I become content.
Anna inspired by “Fisherman at Sea” by Henry Ossawa Tanner
Coming at full speed
Clouds of dust following them
Disturbing silence
Jenny inspired by “Tower of Blue Horses” by Franz Marc
Swirl swish harsh lines fly
Egypt farmer New York Ocean
Chaotic splendor
Kimisha inspired by “Cows” by Franz Marc
Dirt-filled ice naps
Hair caught in the earth cracks
The sky looks large
Camila inspired by “Clear Day with a Southern Breeze” by Katsushika Hokusai
The movement within
Flows around the consistency
Of two beating hearts
Rebecca inspired by “Red Deers” by Franz Marc
I walk on French streets
Feeling the hot summer sun
I will return home
Michael inspired by “Street Scene, Tangier” by Henry Ossawa Tanner
We gain our knowledge
To rise and overcome them
Books are the answer.
Michael inspired by “The Library” by Jacob Lawrence
Anger in his stare
Instills fear with his mighty call
Eyes and body one color
Jenny inspired by “Tiger “by Franz Marc
The sun shining down.
Everyone happy and warm.
A nice Paris day.
Sarah inspired by “Jardin du Luxembourg” by Lois Mailou Jones
They lay in summer
They don’t know what we’re planning
We escape tonight
Michael inspired by “New Jersey” by Jacob Lawrence
African soil
Music escapes through dreaded locks
Wealth forgets poverty
Jasmine inspired by “What Comes Around Goes Around” by Krista Franklin
The sun rising high,
She thinks of a better world.
Real life: time to work.
Sarah inspired by “The Song of the Lark” by Jules Breton
Colors invading
different reflections of
the shattered stable
Rebecca inspired by “Stables” by Franz Marc
Children
Children look for love
Their love feeds our hopes
and dreams
The uprooted tree
weeps for love
Kellian inspired by “Men Exist for the Sake of One Another. Teach Them Then or Bear with Them” by Jacob Lawrence
Hatched strikes me
Yet I soothe you
But when will it be my turn?
Jasmine inspired by “Dreaming Horse” by Franz Marc
In my native land
The spring night fills me with joy
They are now married.
Michael inspired by “Fiesta en Jardin” by Paloma Hinojosa
Chaos shutters me
Covering what is not there
the orange, it soothes
Kelsey inspired by “Autumn Leaves Fluttering in the Breeze” by Alma Woodsey Thomas
African lovers
Mix colors with dancing to
Recreate freedom
Rebecca inspired by “Celebration” by Charles Seales
Farmer and his horse
Diff’rent kind of realism
Crude intricacy
Kimisha inspired by “Going to Market” by William H. Johnson
Most poems are untitled but are presented here with the painting title and artist.
Upon the heath of spring
we find our hero laughing at
the killing killing killing joke.
Vlad inspired by “Junior Wells” by Frederick Brown
I never forget
to forget is to kill him
he lives in pictures.
Michael inspired by “Dreams No. 2” by Jacob Lawrence
Bright skirts and dresses.
The uniform of summer.
The schoolyard music.
Anna inspired by “School’s Out” by Allan Rohan Crite
I’m running away angry
Fly me away on your dreams
Forget that which lags
Kelsey inspired by “Enchanted Ride” by Bob Thompson
You snuck in from the night time
Like frozen colors sneak onto
You now- glossy eyes
Camila inspired by Untitled abstract-artist unknown
Negro Men
Color wasted on
Negro men who got bulky
Hands trapped by massa.
Gabriel inspired by “Harvest Talk” by Charles Wilbert White
White snow turned golden
By the shining winter sun.
Hoofprints in the snow.
Anna inspired by “Mount Equinox, Winter” by Rockwell Kent
wild and untamed
broken by nothing is he
my heart envies him
Kelsey inspired by “The Blue Rider and his Horse” by Franz Marc
At the horizon
the sun is setting down on
the poor and withered farmer
Vlad inspired by “Seaweed Gatherers” by Edward Mitchell Bannister
Every night he took
off his happy face mask to
wait for his next show.
Gabriel inspired by “Self Portrait” by Malvin Gray Johnson
The strong crash of waves
tosses flecks of blue and green
I become content.
Anna inspired by “Fisherman at Sea” by Henry Ossawa Tanner
Coming at full speed
Clouds of dust following them
Disturbing silence
Jenny inspired by “Tower of Blue Horses” by Franz Marc
Swirl swish harsh lines fly
Egypt farmer New York Ocean
Chaotic splendor
Kimisha inspired by “Cows” by Franz Marc
Dirt-filled ice naps
Hair caught in the earth cracks
The sky looks large
Camila inspired by “Clear Day with a Southern Breeze” by Katsushika Hokusai
The movement within
Flows around the consistency
Of two beating hearts
Rebecca inspired by “Red Deers” by Franz Marc
I walk on French streets
Feeling the hot summer sun
I will return home
Michael inspired by “Street Scene, Tangier” by Henry Ossawa Tanner
We gain our knowledge
To rise and overcome them
Books are the answer.
Michael inspired by “The Library” by Jacob Lawrence
Anger in his stare
Instills fear with his mighty call
Eyes and body one color
Jenny inspired by “Tiger “by Franz Marc
The sun shining down.
Everyone happy and warm.
A nice Paris day.
Sarah inspired by “Jardin du Luxembourg” by Lois Mailou Jones
They lay in summer
They don’t know what we’re planning
We escape tonight
Michael inspired by “New Jersey” by Jacob Lawrence
African soil
Music escapes through dreaded locks
Wealth forgets poverty
Jasmine inspired by “What Comes Around Goes Around” by Krista Franklin
The sun rising high,
She thinks of a better world.
Real life: time to work.
Sarah inspired by “The Song of the Lark” by Jules Breton
Colors invading
different reflections of
the shattered stable
Rebecca inspired by “Stables” by Franz Marc
Children
Children look for love
Their love feeds our hopes
and dreams
The uprooted tree
weeps for love
Kellian inspired by “Men Exist for the Sake of One Another. Teach Them Then or Bear with Them” by Jacob Lawrence
Hatched strikes me
Yet I soothe you
But when will it be my turn?
Jasmine inspired by “Dreaming Horse” by Franz Marc
In my native land
The spring night fills me with joy
They are now married.
Michael inspired by “Fiesta en Jardin” by Paloma Hinojosa
Chaos shutters me
Covering what is not there
the orange, it soothes
Kelsey inspired by “Autumn Leaves Fluttering in the Breeze” by Alma Woodsey Thomas
African lovers
Mix colors with dancing to
Recreate freedom
Rebecca inspired by “Celebration” by Charles Seales
Farmer and his horse
Diff’rent kind of realism
Crude intricacy
Kimisha inspired by “Going to Market” by William H. Johnson
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