By Robert Frost
1
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;
Explanation:
In this stanza, the poet describes standing at a fork in the road in a forest during autumn (“yellow wood”). He feels regret that he cannot take both paths and must choose only one. He carefully examines the first road, looking as far as he can, but it bends out of sight, symbolizing the uncertainty of the future.
2
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,
Explanation:
Here, the poet decides to take the second road, thinking it is better because it appears less traveled. However, he soon realizes that both roads are actually quite similar in terms of wear. This suggests that choices in life may seem different, but in reality, their consequences are often unpredictable.
3
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.
Explanation:
The poet observes that both paths were covered with fresh leaves, meaning no one had recently walked on them. He tells himself that he will take the first road some other day, but deep inside, he knows that one choice leads to another, making it unlikely that he will ever return to this exact point. This reflects how life moves forward, and we rarely get the chance to redo our past decisions.
4
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.
Explanation:
In the final stanza, the poet imagines himself in the future, reflecting on his decision. The “sigh” could indicate satisfaction or regret—leaving the meaning open to interpretation. He claims that taking the “less traveled” road made all the difference in his life, suggesting that making unique or unconventional choices can shape one’s destiny.
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