Bucket List
Poetry

creating a poetic & personalized list that has rhythm and flow

A song by Tim McGraw is inspiring student writers to try new techniques with the traits of sentence fluency and idea development.

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

Additional Student Samples Being Sought:
Grades 6, 7, 9, 10

Student Samples: Middle School

Before I Go...
by Corina, eighth grade writer

Someday I would like to visit
China and try all the
Different kinds of food.

I would also like to own a
Record player and every
Record from Black Sabbath.

I want to learn how to drive.
I want to own a van,
So I can travel with people I enjoy being around.

I want to go on a
H igh roller coaster ride.

I’d like to own a pet snake
That doesn’t grow too big

I want to learn how to swim.

I want to forget things I never wanted to know.

Most of all…
I want to graduate from high school.

My Bucket List
by Carmello, eighth grade writer

I really want
To be with my family before I pass away and make sure that
My grandchildren have a better way of living than
I did.

I want
My friends to happier than me
And don’t pass at a
Young age.

I want
My wife to not cry when I’m gone
Because I will be looking after her
And my children when I’m
In Heaven.

I want
The best education I can have
And teach children a better way
Of learning.

I want
To be a soccer player because I want to break Pele’s record
Scoring goals.

I want
To be a movie star because I would be bigger than
Will Smith.

I want
To be a rock star because my music would bring inspiration to people
And a message that they can
Do anything.

I want
To be a Reggae singer because my music will be about not fighting but
Loving everyone.

I want
To direct a movie because it will be the best movie the people of earth have
Ever seen.

I want
To run my own company because it will be the biggest company in
The world.

I want
To become a football player because I will be the best football
Player ever.

I want
To travel to Mexico City because I want to see the
Aztec temples and watch the sunset behind the
Great Temple.

Student Samples: High School

Last Sip…
by Angela, eleventh grade writer

I would run into the street screaming at
The top of my lungs
Just so people would stare
I would say the things I was always too scared to say
I would play every sport possible until you couldn’t
Tell where my bruises began
And where they ended

I would run until I was lost
I would pick up every penny I could find
And place them heads up
On every street corner
I would push every button on the elevator
Just to stop at every floor

I would stay up all night just to watch the moon set
I would try to name every star I could see
I would be nothing but me

I would stay up just to watch my family sleep
I would write down every beautiful thing about them
I would make sure they knew
That I loved them
With every fiber of my being

I wouldn’t let one minute go by wasted
And if it did
I would surely chase it
I would soak up every possible second
Just to admire all the beauty in our lives
Even something as simple as a leaf
Simply colored yet intriguing

I would be sure to leave an ever lasting impression
On the world

I would tattoo my feet green
I would look death in the eye
Then run and hide
I would no longer be mean to the people I disliked
I would never take simple things for granted
I would tell everyone Hi and Bye twice
Just to make sure they heard me

I would marry the one that I loved
I would wear the ugliest dress
I could possibly find
Just to memorize all the funny faces
I would receive

I would stare at him until I went blind
I would die in his arms while we were at the zoo
We would be next to the
Animal I most feared
Because someone as complicated
As me
Would never settle for death in a hospital
I would live like I was dying
After I died

Swish!!!
by Erica McKenzie, twelfth grade writer

One last time, where I laugh so hard I begin to cry.
A silent night with one last look at a shooting star flying across the sky.
The taste of cake batter ice cream and the smell of rain.
The power to make sure that when I’m gone, no one will feel any pain.
One last camping trip to Pyramid Lake.
Getting to blow out candles on my 18 th birthday cake.
Graduating from high school and “walking it out” down the aisle.
Making sure that even when I pass away, love and happiness won’t go
out of style.
Family barbeques and tie-dying with all of my friends.
Inspiring everyone and leaving a good impression when my life ends.
The ability to watch over everyone and re-unite after death.
One last time to hit the game winning shot.
SWISH!!!
Nothing but net.

That Day…
by Erin, twelfth grade writer

I will eat crazy, exotic food.
Everyone will love everyone.
I will live in a foreign country.
Friends will always be there.
I will drive fast and walk slow.
My family will be crazy and awesome.
I will succeed, but I will work for it.
More people will want to help others.
I hope to love and be loved.
My life will be full of surprises.
I will be an awesome long boarder.
My style will rock.
I will change lives.
Life will be good…
On that day.