“The Summer I Was Sixteen” is a 20-line free verse poem, meaning that there are no consistent patterns of rhyme, rhythm, or meter throughout the piece. The poem contains five stanzas, or groupings of lines, each four lines long. The brevity of each stanza, paired with the consistently enjambed lines, mimics the fast-paced teenage energy described throughout the poem. The lines are uninterrupted by long pauses and can therefore be read quickly. The poem moves from one idea to the next at the same rate that young Connolly and her friends buzz between poolside activities. The poem’s structure and energetic pace participate in the overall sense of youth and liveliness.

The uniformity of the stanzas highlights that adult Connolly is the one articulating this memory. The poet, older and wiser than her teenage self, establishes order in an otherwise chaotic and playful childhood narrative.