When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities

“When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities” is a 30-line, free verse poem, meaning that there are no consistent patterns of rhyme, rhythm, or meter throughout the entirety of the piece. The poem contains 15 stanzas, or groupings of lines, and is playful and surprising in its construction.

The only consistency found within the structure of Chen’s poem is that each stanza is two lines in length. Traditional two-line stanzas, also known as couplets, are typically marked by rhythmic correspondence or rhyme. Couplets often signify the end of a poem, concluding a piece of writing in a succinct manner, leaving readers with a lasting impression of the poem’s main thematic concerns. However, by deviating from these rules, Chen is able to succinctly discuss a myriad of subjects throughout the poem, constantly concluding a thought and beginning another.

The two-line stanzas also create a natural back and forth, mimicking Chen’s conflicting emotions throughout the poem. He is constantly introducing new relationship dynamics into the poem (see: Poem Analysis), wrestling with the intersections of his own identity. Chen’s two-line stanzas therefore set both the pace and