How do you find the message in the poem fifteen by William Stafford?

Answer 1

The message is coming-of-age. As he mentions fifteen at the end of every stanza, it becomes his identity, but when he brings the motorcycle back to the man, he becomes more than just fifteen.

I believe the question is, "How do you find the message in the poem fifteen by William stafford [sic]," not "What is the message?" The answer is simple yet difficult: read the poem carefully several times and think a great deal about the language of poem.

Answer 2

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.