Robert Frost: “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.
(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "K" is for "Keystone")
When you try, really try…
When you do your best…
When you make a decision based on the best evidence
available, and everyone thinks it was a poor decision and you are therefore roundly
condemned for it – well, that’s pretty hard to take.
Don’t tell me it was an important occasion. I knew that.
A get-together of the entire clan, all of ‘em, something that hadn’t
happened for years. And they were all
waiting for me.
I was on my way, nonchalant, speeding along in my old jalopy, known
affectionately to members of my family as “The Wheezer” because of the odd wheezing
noise it makes when I shift from first to second gear (so I try not to do that
too often).
I was carrying important cargo. It was Grandpa Pittinger’s birthday and, as I
said, the whole famdamily was in attendance.
Grandma Pittinger had ordered a special cake. It had cost a fortune and I had been
commandeered to go into the Big City to pick it up.
It was huge (there are a lot of relatives) and on
the way back it was sitting up front on the passenger’s seat, enjoying the
view.
I had ten miles or so to go when I ran into a
metaphorical brick wall. I pulled up and
stopped (the brakes working rather well for a change).
Truth is, I didn’t know these roads all that
well. It was never a problem because all
I had to do was wait till I saw the signpost “Keystone Road” and then turn on it
to take me to the Pittingers. But some
joker had uprooted the post and tossed it into the bushes. So I uttered an earthy remark because I was now faced with a road that had
suddenly become a couple of roads.
Question: which was Keystone Road?
I analyzed the situation. One road looked as though it had more traffic
on it, which would seem to mean it probably went to the next town. So, on purpose, I took the other one.
Well, I guessed wrong. After grotesquely wandering all over creation, I finally
arrived with the cake, over an hour late, everyone glaring at me. I explained about the missing signpost and
that I had taken the road less traveled by.
Surely they should have seen it was not my fault,
but they kept up with the glaring thing throughout the whole birthday
celebration.
As
for the weekly Berownial quiz, the above bit of whimsical fiction might remind
you of one of our famous poets. What’s
his name?
(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings)
35 comments:
I hope you won't give me a 'frosty reception' when I say: The Road Less Travelled, by Robert Frost.
Altonian starts us off, as he has done before, with the correct answer.
Robert Frost?
Always enjoy your quizzes, Berowne, and it delights me when I succeed in unravelling your, sometimes obscure, clues.
fabulous write; have a happy Sunday
much love..
It's got to be Robert Frost with that "Road less traveled" Have a great day Berowne!
Laurie Kolp and Kathe W have just supplied us with the correct answer.
Is it the poet who Stopped by Woods on a snowy evening on his little horse?
Truedessa: You seem to know the answer. why not give us the poet's name?
Robert Frost is my guess.
Oh cripes... Shaky-ish grounds for me this time... Is it Walt Whitman, Mr. B?
"… and I my Robert Frost."
Old Egg has just coughed up the right answer. Who's next?
Naturgesetz is the latest to join our merry band with the correct answer.
All I can think of is Robert Frost...great write.
Another right answer, this one from Susie Clevenger.
True story: Just this month, I heard David Souter tell, from memory, this Robert Frost poem! (Funny, though, that until I knew your quiz was a poem, I thought it was going to be a movie such as The Descendents.)
Frost. :-)
It reminds me of " Tam O Shanter " .....cheers Bero
Two more "winners" - New York Erratic and Roger Owen Green both have the correct answer.
Dear Berowne, may I have another try?
If you're amenable, here's my second guess: Robert Frost.
I do enjoy your writing, but it's the trickery that spoils my fun! Ha! Ha! So I will say Robert Frost, only by the Road Less Taken...where POW! Zap! You probably tossed that in to fool us!
Zanzinece decided to have a second go at it. This time she has the right answer. Please, anyone, try as many times as you wish; the rules are quite flexible. :-)
Karen S is the latest with the right answer; congrats.
I want to say Frost - "The Road Not Taken" but being "K" week this throws me for a loop....well you do include "Keystone Road"....so, final answer: Robert Frost - and awesome poem and poet.
I think I am lost :D.. Thats KO for me
PhenoMenon, ABCW
http://throodalookingglass.com/2013/09/killereye/
I'm guessing Robert Frost.
Leslie
abcw team
Leslie and Meryl Jaffe, PhD, are the two latest with the correct answer.
Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken." ?
We've just had another right answer, this time from The Fifth Horseman. Congrats.
totally blanked on this one
I will not take this road, not on your tintype, she said, giving me the icy stare and cold shoulder both. It was a frosty day. Alas, poor Robert, I left my minks at home.
Another checking in with the correct answer: Christopher.
So glad I caught up with this one... because he was a friend of my Uncle Joe Arcier. Robert Frost, "The Road Less Travelled." Loved the story you came up with, Berowne, compleat with birthday cake! Amy
Something to do with the Keystone cops, Charlie Chaplin ,the Marx Bros or the Three Stooges. Nah I give up!
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