We Go This Way But Once – Study Guide
The poem We Go This Way But Once by Quinn Lewis is a reflection on the importance of living life with intention and appreciation. The speaker urges us to take advantage of each moment we are given, as we cannot go back and make up for the opportunities we miss. We must make the most of our journey in this world by lending a helping hand to those who travel with us, offering words of encouragement and a smile. We can make the road we travel on a bit more “blossomy and sweet” by sharing kind deeds and gentle words that may help soothe hurting hearts along the way. We Go This Way But Once reminds us of how quickly time passes, and encourages us to make the most of our short time here. We should strive to fill each day with moments that bring joy and meaning, cherishing the memories we create along the way.

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, but We Go This Way But Once serves as a gentle nudge to remember that we only have one shot at this journey. We should make sure not to take it for granted, but instead, embrace all its beauty with open arms. By striving for connection, offering kindness wherever we go, and making each moment count, we can ensure that We Go This Way But Once is a journey filled with joy and purpose.
The three-stanza poem serves as a poignant reminder to prioritize connection and love in all aspects of our lives. We should make sure to give thoughtfully and also receive with gratitude as much as possible, for We Go This Way But Once and this journey is fleeting. We must make the most of it now because We Go This Way But Once.
Explanation of We Go This Way But Once
This poem is saying that we only have one life. We can’t go back and change what we did, so it’s important to do the best with the time we have. We should be kind and helpful to those around us, and try to make their journey through life smoother by being supportive and encouraging. We should also take time for ourselves by doing things that make us happy. This way, our lives will be full of joy! We should remember that We Go This Way But Once, and make the most of it! We can make our lives better, even if it’s just a little bit each day. We have the power to create something special that will last long after we’re gone.
Analysis of We Go This Way But Once
The poem We Go This Way But Once by Quinn Lewis offers a powerful reminder of the fragility and preciousness of life. The poem begins with a simple yet poignant statement, “We go this way but once,” and then follows it up with advice on how to make the most of our journey on Earth. Lewis encourages us to help others and to do good deeds, noting that “giving to those who travel with us a helping hand, a word of cheer, a smile” will be beneficial not only for them but also for ourselves. We must make the road we travel “blossomy and sweet” by spreading kindness and compassion. We have been given this life as an opportunity to make a difference, and We Go This Way But Once reminds us of that. We must not take the time we have here for granted, as it is fleeting and finite. We should make sure to use our life wisely, helping others when we can and making sure to fill it with love and joy.
The poem is a reflective piece that encourages us to make the most of our lives and to treat those around us with kindness. The language used in this poem is simple yet poetic, as it conveys its message in a direct and effective manner. Through the use of repetition, imagery, and musicality, this poem invites readers to ponder the preciousness of life and strive for excellence in all that they do.
In the title, We Go This Way But Once, the poet conveys the temporary nature of life and the importance of making each step along our journey worthwhile. The poem emphasizes that we should take care to make meaningful connections with those around us, offering them a helping hand, words of encouragement and smiles.
The second stanza poignantly asserts that we will never have the chance to go back and change our decisions or express words of love. We must therefore seize the present so that we can make life more fruitful for ourselves and others.
The poem concludes with a plea for us to make the path we tread more “blossomy and sweet” by being kind, generous and compassionate towards those who have stumbled and fallen. We Go This Way But Once urges us to act with empathy and understanding in our brief time here on Earth so that we can leave a legacy of love and kindness for those who come after us.
Theme of We Go This Way But Once
The message of We Go This Way But Once is clear: life is precious and should be cherished. We must do our best to make the most of it, live with intention, and strive to be kinder and more understanding. We should not take any moment for granted and try to enjoy every single day. We can do this by making a conscious effort to be compassionate towards ourselves and others, finding ways to make life more meaningful, and making the world around us a better place. We can start by doing small things like offering a kind word or helping someone in need. We can also spread love and positivity by showing empathy, forgiveness, and gratitude.
The poem is a powerful reminder to make the most of our lives. The poem emphasizes that life is fleeting and calls on us to lead meaningful lives, encouraging us to be generous with our time, words and deeds. We are urged to think before we speak and act, to ensure we use our time in a meaningful way and leave a lasting impact on those around us. We are encouraged to help, comfort, and support others during their journey through life. By taking the time to give others a helping hand, we can make our lives more rewarding and enrich the lives of those who travel with us. We should take advantage of every moment and seize every opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us.
Poetic Devices of We Go This Way But Once
The poem We Go This Way But Once by Quinn Lewis is written in simple and straightforward language, emphasizing its message of living each moment to the fullest. The poet employs a variety of poetic devices, such as alliteration, repetition and rhyme etc to create a memorable and impactful work.
Alliteration: The repetition of the sound “w” in “We go this way but once” and “words we knew but did not say”.
Alliteration can also be found in lines such as “giving to those who travel with us a helping hand” and “smoothing the path of bruised and stumbling feet”. The former line contains alliteration through the repetition of “h” and “t” sounds while the latter includes alliteration through the use of the “s” sound.
Repetition: The phrase “We go this way but once” is repeated multiple times, emphasizing the idea that life is a one-time journey.
Imagery: Imagery can be found in lines such as “Then let us make/the road we travel blossomy and sweet” which conjures up a mental image of a beautiful, inviting path.
Personification: Life is personified as a journey as if it were a physical road that can be travelled.
Metaphor: The journey of life is metaphorically compared to a road, where kind and helpful deeds can make it “blossomy and sweet.”
Conclusion
The poem We Go This Way But Once by Quinn Lewis is a reminder to make the most of the journey of life. It encourages us to take advantage of the limited time we have and make it meaningful. We should be kind and generous, offering a helping hand, words of encouragement, and smiles to those who travel with us along our path. We should strive to make the journey of life beautiful and smooth for others, doing our best to undo wrongs and speak loving words. We Go This Way But Once is a poignant reminder that life is precious and fleeting, so let us take advantage of this limited opportunity to enrich ourselves, as well as those around us. We can make a difference and leave an impression on the world, no matter how small. We Go This Way But Once—let’s make our journey count!