Quest Item Poems

a three-part poem about standing on the road of life

A song by Jim Croce is inspiring student writers to try new techniques with the traits of idea development and word choice.

By visiting this lesson's Teacher Instructions & Lesson Resources page, you will find even more samples that can be printed for your class to be used as discussion tools during the teaching of this lesson.

Your students can self-publish their writing to this lesson here.

Student Sample Being Sought: Upper Elementary

Student Sample: Middle School

My Story
by John M., seventh grade writer

Life is like a story
You never know
What will be written next.

I carry my love
As deep as the sea
Never ending
Always holding my hand
To assure me of things not known
Subsiding love, subsiding love.

I carry my pride
As tall as the clouds
Riding above buildings
Holding me back
When I seem to be in trouble
Helpful pride, helpful pride.

I carry my curiosity
As full as a story
Brimmed to the edges with ideas
Running by my side
Asking me questions as we go
Quick curiosity, quick curiosity.

My journey is ending
My time is near
And I will go with no fear.
I have my weapons, my holy grails,
No one but me will care
When and if I fail.

(Click here to view and print John and five of his classmates' quest item poems)

Student Sample: High School

Not Ready To Be On My Own
by Shelayna, eleventh grade writer  

I reach two signs in the road
I’m indecisive at this point
An age of confusion
In desperate need of a push.

My heart is my everything
It’s my president, my boss, my teacher
It aches with passion and honesty I can’t ignore
It’s as loving as it is loved.

I’m never alone
As I run in circles it runs with me
Or perhaps stands there and laughs
Because the answer is right there
Its breath on my neck could burn down a forest
Yet I keep him around, my obsessive friend wisdom.

Alas, my characteristic trait
Flies free, stubborn, and alone
Independence, I wear him on my sleeve
Bearing all that is me.

I choose to sit here and wait until my answer comes alone
The paths aren’t going anywhere
They are laid out for me
And I keep them free of shrubbery.

(Click here to view and print Shelayna and three of his classmates' quest item poems)