Students at Palisades Elementary Charter School shared pieces from the “Jar of Hearts” anthology, created by workshop leader Michelle Bitting Abrams at the end of a California Poets in the Schools program, at Palisades Branch Library.
Here are two examples of their work.

School
I heard my alarm clock go off and I thought,
just a little longer. Dong, Dong, I’m late
for school. Do I have to go today?
“It’s math time,” calls my teacher.
I would rather eat a bath. Dong, dong –
school is out. Wake up time for school.
That was all a dream? Do I have to go
today, can’t I wait a little longer?!
—Jasper McClary
The Place I Wish I Could Be
I wish I could be far away
in Paris eating a big baguette
while wearing one of those
weird hats. I see no rats.
As I climb the Eiffel Tower
I’m happy. I could be getting
a portrait painted as I sit here
writing this poem.
—Maya Hernandez
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