The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
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.
About the Poet
Robert Frost (1874-1963) was one of America’s most celebrated poets, winning four Pulitzer Prizes for his work. Born in San Francisco but deeply associated with New England, Frost was known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. He wrote about nature not just for its beauty, but as a way to explore deep human questions. Some of his most famous poems include “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” “Mending Wall,” and “Birches.” Frost had a special talent for taking everyday scenes from nature and turning them into poems that explored life’s big questions.
About the Poem
“The Road Not Taken” (1916) is perhaps Frost’s most famous poem, though it’s often misunderstood. While many think it’s simply about choosing your own path in life, Frost wrote it with a touch of gentle irony about how people make decisions and later explain their choices. The poem describes a walker in the woods coming upon a fork in the path – a simple moment that becomes a metaphor for life’s choices. Through vivid imagery of yellow woods and grassy paths, Frost creates a scene that every reader can picture, making complex ideas about choice and destiny accessible even to young readers. The poem’s gentle rhythm and clear imagery make it perfect for students, while its deeper meanings can be explored as they grow older.
