Monday, February 15, 2010

The Path

Funny, the seemingly trivial events that have a profound effect on your life.  When I was in High School I had an American Literature assignment.  Thinking back, I think American Lit. was my Junior year. An experience that I was not alone in, as I'm sure if you think back, you'll also remember being required to choose, memorize, and recite a poem.  In retrospect, there were probably few assignments that were as formative to me, both in solidifying my identity and in developing a love for prose.

I reflect on this now, as I've added an additional statement to my blog's title.  Whenever in my life that I've needed affirmation I've held onto this phrase like you treasure an old friend.  It has given me strength.  To me it is more than just a cool poem, it has been my life's path.  It has, and continues to make all of the difference.

 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
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 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

1 comment:

  1. I've always loved that poem! Good philosophy :)

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