Poem in Your Pocket Day was in April. Oops!
Okay, I have been super busy in the last month and it doesn’t appear to be any less busy for about three more weeks. Fun! I’m not complaining, but I am behind in my blogging.
Here is my very tardy post on Poem in Your Pocket Day.
In sixth grade we were assigned this poem to memorize. I did very well and received an A+ on my recitation. I didn’t receive many A plusses, so this was a big deal for me.
The surprise?
While learning the poem, it became my favorite.
Who would have thought it?
In many ways, I have taken the road less traveled.
I’m happier when I do my own thing.
This poem, The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (1874–1963) should be everyone’s favorite poem. At least I think so. I have a few others I enjoy and I’ll share them in some other post.
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, 10
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.
Whenever I have gone a different direction than my peers (became a drama teacher when many of my college theatre friends pursued professional acting ) or my family (studied the arts and have continued to create art as an adult,) I think of this poem.
On occasion, I have wondered what my life would have, could have been. Don’t you? I think if one doesn’t wonder, you are unaware of life in general.
As I look back at my life choices, I can see where God has shaped my path into one far more interesting and beneficial to me than I alone could have imagined for myself. That’s just pretty cool.
That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been challenging, dull or hard. It has, but I’ve always maintained a modicum of hope that life will work out as it should even if I don’t understand it at the time.
Remember, life is a journey. You won’t be stuck anywhere for very long, even though it may seem like forever at the time. Do what you can for others to help them.
My mother advised me, “When you are feeling sorry for yourself, look up and out of yourself and you’ll see others who need your understanding and care.”
Words of wisdom, I’d say.
What words of wisdom do you live by? I’d love to hear them.
Here are some of my own poems:
I hope you aren’t too busy to enjoy Poem in Your Pocket Day.
Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net
