The Road Less Traveled

July 14

I am thankful for the road less traveled. It gives us the opportunity to do things, make a path for ourselves, beyond the normal, beyond the everyday. Robert Frost made it famous in his poem The Road Not Taken:

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. © 1920 Robert Frost

In reading the analysis of the poem, it is often misunderstood. In truth, the narrator faces two equally untraveled roads and chooses one, with perhaps some misgivings that he didn't take the other road. It is only later that he says he took the one less traveled, perhaps to justify his decision. Perhaps it is not so easy just to choose the road less traveled. But anyway, I am referring to taking a route in life that is unique to you and not shared by untolds numbers of people. In looking back, sure there will be regrets for "the road not taken" but we do what we do. Granted, the road less traveled may not always be the best road. If your goal is to go to the grocery store a block down the road and you decide to take the road less traveled which takes a convoluted and long route to the store, you may be wasting your time. Then again, perhaps you experience new and gratifying things on that road. Who is to say?

This is a photo of a dirt road taken in Texas. I like the fact that it is a dirt road, which are generally not used as much as regular raods, and that it rises up a hill to signify elevating yourself to better things.

the road less traveled

the road less traveled

lies there squarely in front of me

whereas the road more traveled

is an alternate destiny

things to consider in this

advantage of the more traveled road

clear and smooth and trampled down

a safer and quicker episode

briars and other obstructions

line the less traveled way

making it more difficult

and dangerous byway

which to take

which way should i go

i guess it depends upon

the destination to show.

© rt tulley