“Fifteen”

Question

By William Stafford

Read the poem, and then answer the questions.

South of the bridge on Seventeenth

I found back of the willows one summer

day a motorcycle with engine running

as it lay on its side, ticking over

slowly in the high grass. I was fifteen.

I admired all that pulsing gleam, the

shiny flanks, the demure headlights

fringed where it lay; I led it gently

to the road and stood with that

companion, ready and friendly. I was fifteen.

We could find the end of a road, meet

the sky on out Seventeenth. I thought about

hills, and patting the handle got back a

confident opinion. On the bridge we indulged

a forward feeling, a tremble. I was fifteen.

Thinking, back farther in the grass I found

the owner, just coming to, where he had flipped

over the rail. He had blood on his hand, was pale—

I helped him walk to his machine. He ran his hand

over it, called me good man, roared away.

I stood there, fifteen. 

William Stafford, “Fifteen” from Ask Me: 100 Essential Poems. Copyright © 1966, 2014 by William Stafford and the Estate of William Stafford. Reprinted with the permission of The Permissions Company, Inc. on behalf of Graywolf Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota, www.graywolfpress.org.

Question

Drag and drop the statements that describe how the structure of the poem contributes to its overall meaning.

Put responses in the correct input to answer the question. Select a response, navigate to the desired input and insert the response. Responses can be selected and inserted using the space bar, enter key, left mouse button or touchpad. Responses can also be moved by dragging with a mouse.

Stanza 1

Stanza 2

Stanza 3

Stanza 4

highlights a turning point in the speaker’s thoughts

details the speaker’s desire to ride the motorcycle

describes the speaker’s reaction to seeing the motorcycle

provides the physical setting of the poem

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Answer 1

Stanza 1
Stanza 4