Poetry Project
Madalyn Schoenfeld
People have control of the paths they go down.
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Congratulations! (a) (Open form - because it has a pattern/rhymes)
Today is your day. (b) (Metaphor - you can control what "streets" you go
You're off to Great Places! (c) and what you choose to do with your life.)
You're off and away! (b) (Stanza 1) (Quatrain)
You have brains in your head. (a)
You have feet in your shoes (b)
You can steer yourself (c) (Stanza 2)
any direction you choose. (b)
You're on your own. And you know what you know. (d)
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go. (d) (couplet)
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. (a)
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there." (a) (Stanza 3) (Quatrain)
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, (b)
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street. (b)
And you may not find any (a)
you'll want to go down. (b) (Stanza 4) (Quatrain)
In that case, of course, (c)
you'll head straight out of town. (b)
It's opener there. (a) (Stanza 5)
in the wide open air. (a)
Out there things can happen (a)
and frequently do (b) (Stanza 6) (Quatrain)
to people as brainy (c)
and footsy as you. (b)
And when things start to happen, (a)
don't worry. Don't stew. (b) (Stanza 7) (Quatrain)
Just go right along. (c)
You'll start happening too. (b)
OH! (a) (Stanza 8)
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO. (a)