GBMD - The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


I hope Jared doesn't mind I've revealed the poem he chose for me in Anna's Gardening by Letter project. It's such a thoughtful thing to do and a gift I've not received before. Robert Frost's poems are amongst the first I can remember hearing and reading at school, so it's a good choice. They're such evocative pieces and never fail to conjure images in my head. This poem is particularly apt for now as I'm facing choices - all good I hasten to add. As always, the choice will make a difference and who knows whether it's the right one until the road has been taken and lived a little?

Garden Bloggers' Muse Day is hosted by Carolyn Choi at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago.

Comments

  1. The bike shed1 October 2009 at 11:19

    A clever and intelligent poem.

    I hope the road you travel bears fruit - metaphorically speaking at least, though perhaps literally too?

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rose1 October 2009 at 13:33

    VP, this is one of my very favorite poems! I remember, too, our 7th grade (I was 12) teacher reading some of Robert Frost's poems to us then, including this one. It struck a nerve with me, and I purchased a paperback anthology of his poems the next year--rather strange for a teenager:) But his poems have always spoken to me, and I often think, as we all do, what would have happened in my life if I'd taken "the other road"? Good luck to you in making the right choices for you; I'm glad both "roads" are positive ones.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sweet Home and Garden Carolina1 October 2009 at 20:07

    VP ,

    Who doesn't love Robert Frost? I recall seeing him for the first time reading the invocation at John Kennedy's inauguration.

    A very though provoking selection for Muse Day.

    I can imagine Autumn in the English countryside. I visited during the middle of summer when all the gardens were in full bloom. The closest I got to your hometown was Bath I reckon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown1 October 2009 at 20:55

    I just love him. I have a book of his poems. it is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 3c1 October 2009 at 22:07

    Well, that's a bit tantalising, isn't it!

    An elderly friend once said to me, in a world-weary sort of way, that you do everything, then you do it again, then that's it. I'm hoping he's wrong . . . that we can go back to the forks in the path and 'have a go' at the 'other ones' from time to time.

    By the way - you'd think I'd have got used to your 'well, er . . . Chippenham' . . . by now - but I always forget it between visits so it never fails to make me smile as the page opens.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Diana Studer1 October 2009 at 22:21

    Go back to the other path? No. For if you were to go back, that path would no longer be there. But with hindsight you see choices made, that were just life, at the time.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anna1 October 2009 at 23:30

    I plumped for a Robert Frost poem too for GBMD :) May whatever road you decide on bode well for you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shady Gardener2 October 2009 at 00:42

    What a nice post. This is one of my husband's favorite poems. Now that we're in October, it's quite appropriate!! Have a great Autumn season. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. James David2 October 2009 at 04:08

    Hi, just drop by from Blotanical to visiting your lovely blog & post.
    I admire those gardens where a lot of care is to keep them well maintained - I never seen those kind in my place.
    Nice poem too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. VP2 October 2009 at 08:21

    Hello everyone - I'm glad you like the poem. I do like Robert Frost - a writer of what looks like very simple pieces, but so thought provoking when you scratch the surface.

    Rose - my first Robert Frost memories are from 7 years old! One of our teachers was particularly found of poetry and his work :)

    Carolyn - yes and he often has something appropriate for Muse Day

    flowrgirl1 - I must find one for myself too

    3c - tantalising's a good description for quite a bit of Robert Frost's work. I suppose that's one of the reasons why he's such a popular poet - readers stand a good chance of finding something that's meaningful to them

    Elephant's Eye - welcome! That's very good advice. To go back would probably only end in regret. Onwards and upwards!

    Anna - thank you :)

    Shady Gardener - I think Autumn's a little earlier for us this year. We went on a trip out yesterday to the coast, admiring the tree colour as we went :D

    James - welcome and thanks for telling me which road led you here :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nutty Gnome2 October 2009 at 09:08

    Hi VP. I have long loved Robert Frost's poems and this is up there as one of my favourites ... so thank you for sharing it with us all!

    I suspect this one resonates with me because I have a tendency to go for the 'road less travelled' because it looks more interesting ..... and I've so often been proved right!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Carrie2 October 2009 at 13:59

    Frost was a master at touching those places deep inside you that you thought were only yours. I love that poem and it was a joy to read it once again.
    I am yet again at a fork in the road, I have choosen the less travelled path, fingers crosses for us both x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous3 October 2009 at 16:39

    Thank you for the links! I hope your path leads you to happiness. I've always taken the road less traveled and made much of the experience. It is fun and most of the time requires giving of yourself where you didn't know you could. You'll always grow on the road less traveled. Guaranteed.

    I'm so glad you traveled the road to my house ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. VP5 October 2009 at 09:42

    Nutty Gnome - less travelled can be very tempting can't it? I suppose some people wouldn't take it because it might imply 'more difficult' too?

    Carrie - good luck and I hope your journey's a good one :)

    FGG - so am I!

    ReplyDelete

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