Sunday, September 22, 2013

187 Quiz Answer


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:

Altonian said...

I hope you won't give me a 'frosty reception' when I say: The Road Less Travelled, by Robert Frost.

Berowne said...

Altonian starts us off, as he has done before, with the correct answer.

Laurie Kolp said...

Robert Frost?

Altonian said...

Always enjoy your quizzes, Berowne, and it delights me when I succeed in unravelling your, sometimes obscure, clues.

Gillena Cox said...

fabulous write; have a happy Sunday

much love..

Kathe W. said...

It's got to be Robert Frost with that "Road less traveled" Have a great day Berowne!

Berowne said...

Laurie Kolp and Kathe W have just supplied us with the correct answer.

Doctor FTSE said...

Is it the poet who Stopped by Woods on a snowy evening on his little horse?

Berowne said...

Truedessa: You seem to know the answer. why not give us the poet's name?

Old Egg said...

Robert Frost is my guess.

Anonymous said...

Oh cripes... Shaky-ish grounds for me this time... Is it Walt Whitman, Mr. B?

naturgesetz said...

"… and I my Robert Frost."

Berowne said...

Old Egg has just coughed up the right answer. Who's next?

Berowne said...

Naturgesetz is the latest to join our merry band with the correct answer.

Susie Clevenger said...

All I can think of is Robert Frost...great write.

Berowne said...

Another right answer, this one from Susie Clevenger.

Roger Owen Green said...

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.)

New York Erratic said...

Frost. :-)

Silent Otto said...

It reminds me of " Tam O Shanter " .....cheers Bero

Berowne said...

Two more "winners" - New York Erratic and Roger Owen Green both have the correct answer.

Anonymous said...

Dear Berowne, may I have another try?
If you're amenable, here's my second guess: Robert Frost.

21 Wits said...

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!

Berowne said...

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. :-)

Berowne said...

Karen S is the latest with the right answer; congrats.

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

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.

PhenoMenon, ABCW Team said...

I think I am lost :D.. Thats KO for me

PhenoMenon, ABCW
http://throodalookingglass.com/2013/09/killereye/

Leslie: said...

I'm guessing Robert Frost.

Leslie
abcw team

Berowne said...

Leslie and Meryl Jaffe, PhD, are the two latest with the correct answer.

The Fifth Horseman said...

Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken." ?

Berowne said...

We've just had another right answer, this time from The Fifth Horseman. Congrats.

Sheilagh Lee said...

totally blanked on this one

christopher said...

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.

Berowne said...

Another checking in with the correct answer: Christopher.

Sharp Little Pencil said...

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

Rallentanda said...

Something to do with the Keystone cops, Charlie Chaplin ,the Marx Bros or the Three Stooges. Nah I give up!

 
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