#ClassicPoetry – #RobertFrost – #TheRoadNotTaken

/ Marcia Meara

 

Time for another quick jaunt through the world of Classic Poetry. Robert Frost has always been another of my favorites, since being introduced to his work more than 68 years ago, when I was twelve. I love him just as much today as I did then, though I’m not sure whether that simply means I had excellent taste at age twelve, or my taste has never developed any farther. Hmmm. 

Either way, I think I’ll be sharing a few of Frost’s poems in the weeks ahead, just because … BEAUTIFUL!! (And meaningful, too.) Hope yo u enjoy today’s selection.

The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost

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.


Robert Frost 1874 – 1963

Robert Frost was born in San Francisco to journalist William Prescott Frost Jr. and Isabelle Moodie.] His father was a descendant of Nicholas Frost of Tiverton, Devon, England, who had sailed to New Hampshire in 1634 on the Wolfrana, and his mother was a Scottish immigrant.

Frost was also a descendant of Samuel Appleton, one of the early English settlers of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and Rev. George Phillips, one of the early English settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts.

Frost’s father was a teacher and later an editor of the San Francisco Evening Bulletin (which later merged with the San Francisco Examiner), and an unsuccessful candidate for city tax collector. After his death on May 5, 1885, the family moved across the country to Lawrence, Massachusetts, under the patronage of Robert’s grandfather William Frost Sr., who was an overseer at a New England mill. Frost graduated from Lawrence High School in 1892. Frost’s mother joined the Swedenborgian church and had him baptized in it, but he left it as an adult.

Although known for his later association with rural life, Frost grew up in the city, and he published his first poem in his high school’s magazine. He attended Dartmouth College for two months, long enough to be accepted into the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. Frost returned home to teach and to work at various jobs, including helping his mother teach her class of unruly boys, delivering newspapers, and working in a factory maintaining carbon arc lamps. He said that he did not enjoy these jobs, feeling that his true calling was to write poetry.

54 thoughts on “#ClassicPoetry – #RobertFrost – #TheRoadNotTaken”

  1. Our teacher told us that Frost wrote this for his Welsh friend, Edward Thomas, as a bit of a joke because Thomas always worried about which path to take on their walks and whichever one they chose, he’d worry that he’d missed something better on the other one. For me, that’s a powerful message about not regretting choices made with the information you had to hand then. I know people who spend their later years talking about what might have been rather than accepting and making the most of what they do have. Another lovely choice, Marcia – many thanks! ❤ 😀 ❤

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    • That’s very interesting, Trish. AND, as you say, a powerful message is being reinforced. Regretting decisions you’ve already made is a waste of time and energy. Better to look for the best along the road you’ve taken, for sure. I’m glad you enjoyed a re-read of this one (always a favorite of mine) and I appreciate your stopping by and taking time to share your thoughts with us. Thanks so much!! 😀 ❤

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    • I suspect many of us memorized that poem as students somewhere, and well worth it, too, I think. It’s a great one which really carries a a bit of advice worth taking. Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for stopping by today and sharing your thoughts, Sharon. 😀 ❤

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    • I thought it was a great one, too, Priscilla. I loved both of these pictures, and had never seen either before, so I figured I’d pass them along today. Glad you enjoyed them, and thanks so much for stopping by to let me know. 😀 ❤

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    • It’s one of mine, too, Jeanne, and I thought it would be fun to remind folks who are already familiar with it from times gone by, and to introduce it to those who might not be. You can’t go wrong with Frost, and this one is well worth sharing now and then. Thanks so much for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

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    • I agree with you, Darlene, and I was happy to share it today. For those who already love it, a re-read is always fun, and for those who aren’t familiar with, an intro is definitely needed. 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to say hello! 😀 ❤

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  7. Frost is my favorite poet. I have his complete works, and it’s pretty much the only poetry book I ever pick up these days. This particular poem is a favorite, perhaps tied with “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” Thanks for the lovely start to my week, Marcia.

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    • So glad to hear your a big Frost fan, Staci, and this is definitely one of his best. (Funny, I have “Nothing Gold Can Stay” on my list of future poems to share.) I’m so glad this post started your week off in a lovely manner, and thanks for stopping by to let me know. Hope it continues in the same vein! 😀 ❤

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  8. It has been years since I last read this poem, which is a favorite with me as it is with so many other people. Thanks! I’m happy to be reacquainted with him and this poem. I was startled to be reminded that Robert Frost died in 1963. I tend to think of him as being a “classical” poet who was active in the 1800s, but in reality he is almost our contemporary. Apparently he wrote this particular poem around 1915. That was well before my birth, but I graduated from high school in 1962, the year before his death, so Frost was alive and active during the first 18 years of my life. I’m not sure why, but that gives me a different perspective on this poet and this poem.

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    • Funny you should mention that Frost was alive while we were in school, Dennis. That thought really struck home with me, too, as I was already a fan of his way back then. It’s sort of mind-boggling, isn’t it? So glad you enjoyed re-reading this one today, and I’ll probably be featuring more of Frost in the weeks ahead, so I hope you’ll stay tuned. But I have quite a few “favorite” poets I’ll be sharing, too, so can’t say for sure when. (And for some reason, I now find myself singing, ” ‘neath the pines of Palma Ceia, near the bay’s deep blue, stands our noble alma mater, glorious to view…”

      Aaaah, Memory Lane. Always great to visit. 😀 ❤

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      • As many times as I’ve heard our alma mater song, I can never remember the words! That isn’t an effect of old age; I just never learned them! Thanks for a bit more nostalgia.

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        • Continuing on from above,
          “Gather now and lift your voices,
          Praise her to the skies,
          Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
          Hail, all Hail Plant High!”

          I sang that song too many times to count, both in chorus and at football games, etc. It is forever etched into my brain. 😀
          Along with,
          “On you Panthers, on you Panthers, fight right down that line,
          Get the ball and beat ol’ Hillsborough,
          Touchdown sure this time.
          You Rah, Rah!
          “On you Panthers, on you Panthers, show ’em how to fight,
          Fight, Panthers, fight, fight, fight,
          And win tonight!”

          Geeze. You’d think I’d have grown up by now. 😀

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    • So glad you enjoyed this one, Mae. I do love Frost, too! (Imagine that, my Penderpal! 😀 ) And this poem is a real favorite of mine, so I was eager to share it.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to let me know your thoughts.
      😀 ❤

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  11. Although there are many messages gleaned from Frost’s poem, his intent may have been as simple as choosing the preferred road to travel. Frost paints a beautiful picture in one’s mind with this poem. Thanks, Marcia, for posting “The Road Not Taken. ” 🙂

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    • You are very welcome, Nancy. I’ve always loved Frost’s poetry, and this has been a favorite of mine for many years (decades!). I’m so glad you enjoyed it, too. It’s one of those that never grows old, at least for me. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts today! 😀 ❤

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  13. Having grown up in Vermont, Frost’s poems were yearly fare in school, and I’ve always felt an affinity to his work. I had no idea he was a city boy (or I completely blocked that out – Lol). A beautiful poem, Marcia. and a lovely share. ❤

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    • Thanks so much, Diana. I’m glad you enjoyed revisiting Frost and one of his loveliest poems with me. I’ve always loved him, too, and will no doubt be sharing more of his work in the weeks ahead. I appreciate your stopping by and sharing your thoughts today! 😀 ❤

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    • So glad you enjoyed reading this poem, Jackie. You can’t go wrong with Frost, and this is definitely one of my favorite of his works. Thanks so much for letting me know you liked it, and Frost will probably appear in more of my Classic Poetry posts, as the weeks go by. He’s always a treat! 😀 ❤

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    • So glad you took the right road, Sally, even if it wasn’t obvious to you that it WAS the right one. And glad you came to appreciate that choice, even now. This poem is one I think we can all identify with to one extent or another, and it’s always been a favorite of mine. Thanks for stopping by and for letting me know you love it. 😀 ❤

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  19. Pingback: Classic Poetry–Robert Frost–The Road Not Taken #WednesdayWords #Reblogs #Inspiration – My Corner

  21. It’s good to read the whole poem again as I’m sure we at least touched on it at school. Some of the lines are famous without people knowing where they came from. Yes indeed best not to dwell on the paths not taken, though anybody who’s ever got lost on a walk will know paths sometimes lead in a circle back to where you were, but let’s not complicate things!

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    • I’m very glad you enjoyed reading the entire poem, Janet. It’s always been one of my favorites, but I confess, I really love Robert Frost’s work. I’ll be sharing more from him before too long. Can’t go wrong with his poetry! And yep, sometimes paths lead us right back to where we started, but then again … sometimes that’s exactly where we’re meant to be. 😀

      Thanks for stopping by today, and here’s to a great weekend! 😀 ❤

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