The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost (HD)

This is a personal favorite—a simple yet iconic reflection on a major, life-changing shift in one's life. This masterpiece of Robert Frost is always a source of inspiration.
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The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost (1874-1963)
during his "Mountain Interval," 1920

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.
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Video: Copyright © 2012, John C. Catlin. All rights reserved.

Someone questioned the words used in this recitation. For verification that these are Frost's words, please see these links:

[geoffreyhhill]

This was my Dad’s favorite poem, and Robert Frost was his favorite poet. My Dad was an amazing poet too. He passed away in February last year and Covid prevented a memorial service. Today in 3 hours, our family will finally honor him. He truly did choose the road less traveled by and that made all the difference to his family, friends, and the community. We love you and miss you Dad. To the moon and back

[peggywarner]

I LEFT THE FARM FOR NURSING SCHOOL IN THE BIG CITY...IAM RETIRED NOW...BACK ON THE FARM AND LOVE THE DIRT ROADS...THE BIRDS SINGING...BEAUTIFUL TREES AND RIVER....MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY...I WISH HE WAS HERE!!!.

[Alacrity]

The often overlooked element—that the roads were both about equal, and equally unknown—is what gives this poem it’s depth and beauty. In life we only get to walk one road. Whichever we’ve chosen, the other is always unknown (can’t rewind time, even if you can make a different choice in the future). In that way, the agency we have is not in whether we choose the “fairer” road or the road less traveled—our choice is in the narrative we tell ourselves about our lives. We have a choice of whether to look back with regret or pride—and therefore, to build ourselves up, or talk ourselves down.

[charlieyu]

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long stood
And look 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.

[riddington]

This poem was one set for the English Literature exam in the early sixties. I cannot remember anything of it and probably the school setting wrecked it for me. Now, sixty years later I think it is wonderful.

[pauldasen]

One of my mum's favourite poems along with Wordsworth's Daffodils. She always told me as a boy that while the short road was easier it was the long road, with all its trials and hardship, that bore a better future for anyone - who walked that path.

[RobertAfoa]

I read this school a year ago and it didn't mean much to me. When I stumbled upon it again on my own, I realized how powerful the poem is. It has also come to my understanding that there is a notion that this poem is often misunderstood, but poetry is sometimes ambiguous in its nature. Nonetheless, Robert Frost is one of my favorite poets... and I'm glad schools use this poem, however using this poem in formal learning setting really ruined some of its value for me.

[relativelynomadic]

Finally, actually read by somebody who understands how the poem is supposed to flow

[kfuptxh]

I listen to this daily. I dont care how it was written but more how i recieved it.

[amalrasheedali]

Eventually, this poem will find you and it will make all the difference

[KISHOREYO]

This was childhood school english class poem still remember 32 now never forgotten

[min_says_h]

My teacher began showing us these poems and he showed us this one in class so we can visualize it better. After the poem, I told him, "This one has something to it." He told me, "Yeah, I feel the same. In all my years of teaching high school students poems, I can never get over this one. It's just powerful." And I agree. It's so good. This poem is one of those that can make me cry if I think about it a lot.

[dibn]

Love Frost for his unique thoughts ...which makes me better each for sharing..

[Learn_new_ways]

Even after 8 years ..

I havent found anyone else recite like you.
Sir.

[kharkovsky]

Very beautiful poem, I am Russian speaking poet, already began writing in English, and I see how many good poets in American and English literature are there. I would like to combine both worlds and make some new and important.

Robert Frost is my favorite poet in English

[pauldiloreto]

He's not literally talking about a physical path, he's speaking of himself, the two paths are a metaphor, his personal life path, all of us have the free will to choose our own path towards our personal destiny in life. He speaks of equal similarities between the two paths, he chose the one maybe not considered to be the mainstream, therefore he was growing and searching, discovering and encompassing his true unique personal self, he did not choose the common path, therefore, taking a stand for his own true conviction and not being a follower in this life, he chose his own path, his own way of doing things, in the end, that's what made all the difference, he found his true destiny, by being true to himself. So there was no need to ever return and go back and walk the other path.

[goldigit]

"THE ROAD TAKEN"
The road I took in that yellow wood
Cleaved the thicket as far as it could,
I should have taken the other track,
The same-worn path a half-mile back.
It pains me now how long I stood
Weighing the options, bad and good;
Musing, as way leads on to way,
On choices glad and lackaday,  
On by and by and a distant sigh
For deeming roads less traveled by.

[vintagebrew]

In Memory of Bruce Free, who introduced me to the poetry of Robert Frost.

[harshitkumar]

I read it in 9th standard in 2015,
I understood,
This became my favorite poem,
This gave me lesson of life,
Then one day my teacher explained it,
Ruining all what it really mean,
After then thinking myself wrong I got really disappointed not because of me not understanding it but because what it really "mean".

And today I'm here again realizing that I was right and she was wrong,
I'm feeling really pleased.

[lazarus]

I miss my father... Haven't heard from him since 1998. I'll read this poem at his funeral because it's the only memory I have of him.