The Road Not Taken (Powerful Poetry)

"The Road Not Taken" was first published in the August 1915 issue of the Atlantic Monthly, and later published as the first poem in the 1916 poetry collection; Mountain Interval. The meaning of this poem has been debated for over 100 years. While each poem has its intended explanation i.e., the one the author was trying to convey, a poem can also have its interpretation to the reader. In this case, for me, it means, both roads looked the same originally, it was only in hindsight that "he" realized, he took the harder road, and because it was the harder road, this made all the difference.

Transcript

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel,

And be one traveller 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 warned them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay,

And 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 travelled.

By,

And that has made all the difference.

Reviews

Thank you for this reading, I love Robert Frost, and thoroughly enjoyed your voice.

The profundity of this classic has tears of joy streaming down my cheeks. Thank you so! 🙏❤️🙏❗️

Gentle but powerful words spoken with thought. This spoke to my soul.

Love this poem. I hear something new each time. Thank you 🙏

Thank you, Shaun🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻A beautiful poem and so beautifully read, what a delight to listen to🙏🏻🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🙏🏻

I listened to 2 of your other poems and had to look to see if I could find this one, I'm so glad it's in your collection, you did it justice, thank you 😊 🙏 ❤️

A beautiful poem. I have loved it for over 50 years. Thank you for reading it so well.

This has been one of my favorite poems for years. Thank you for your resonant voice and beautiful reading of this timeless piece. 🙏🏻💖

OMG!! In 10th grade we had to memorize this Robert Frost poem and every time another classmate and I see this poem or hear someone else recite it we send it to one another!! This is our favorite by Robert frost!! Thank you Ms. Burkhart for introducing this jewel 💎 to us kids! And thank you for the great memory! 🩵🩵

Each time I hear this poem, I feel safe and comforted as if being engulfed within a warm loving hug. I feel at home as I know this is where I am supposed to be 🙏

Hope springs eternal. Thank you for sharing this. Each time I hear or read this poem I feel energized to continue on the path I have chosen.
Namaste 🙏

A timely reminder that our choices define us. Thank you

Haven't heard in probably 30 years. Perfectly spoken!