Think of a crossroads you have come to at some point in your life. Write down the situation as you remember it, brainstorming what was at stake for you, what you were going toward or leaving behind, and any other factors that made the decision difficult.
Think of a situation or action in the natural world that embodies the type of conflict or decision you faced. You will use this as an extended metaphor.
On a new sheet of paper, in poetic lines, describe this action or situation in nature beginning in the midst of the conflict. As you write, keep in mind your description, your word choice, and your line breaks.
Conclude the natural conflict so that it conveys the lesson you intend to communicate about this life experience. At the end of the poem, as Frost does in "The Road Not Taken," you could "diverge" from description to make a comment on the situation, its nature, its value or difficulties.
When you have finished, go back and edit for word choices, awkward lines or vague descriptions. Give your poem a title.