Two Roads Diverged In A Yellow Wood

While browsing through the photos taken during October 2010 in the Smoky Mountains, I discovered something new. This particular photo came to my attention as an example of one of my favorite poems -- "The Road Not Taken". I'm quite sure that Robert Frost didn't have the Smokies in mind when he wrote that poem, but it is still amazing how close this photo came to the actual concept.

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 travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

~ Robert Frost c.1916

  My favorite part of the poem is included in the last paragrah:

...and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all of the difference.

In my opinion, this poem provides wisdom for life. Oftentimes, we see those taking the main road in life, along with everyone else. It's all part of mainstream society. It takes those unforseen adventures on the road less traveled in order to seek the faith you're looking for. The road to the left is wide and marked. Beautiful, yellow leaves shower the path that is taken everyday by society. Mainstream society is sure to lure you onto this marked path, simply because of the visual peace, beauty and safety, but visual aspects can be deceiving. On the other hand, the road to the right is barely marked. It's not as beautiful as the road to the left. Stumps and branches have fallen onto the path. Peace and safety is no longer and instead, you're led into the unknown. With faith, you follow the road to the right even though you may not know of its destination. Perhaps you'll rest at a dead end or perhaps it will open into a much better view than the road to the left.

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We are presented with two roads every day in life. There's the difficult road as a Christian and then there's the other road---basically a way out; excuses. There are several different concepts that are used to describe "The Road Not Taken". How many of you are willing to take the road less traveled by? What are your thoughts? How has "The Road Not Taken" inspired you?

Note: This poem is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. This means the poem is no longer under copyright.