The poem titled “The Road Not Taken” (full text) by Robert Frost.

I have an intern that works for me. She is currently studying for her Master’s in English. I have her performing some Marketing research for me, and she is doing a reasonable job. One of the things that surprised me was that she couldn’t recite any poetry.

None.

Not one poem.

That really surprised me. As I was memorizing poems since first grade.

Nor was she familiar with any of the poet or classical authors that I named. She was absolutely unfamiliar with all of them.

She didn’t know who Jane Austen was, who William Blake was, or Charles Dickens. She never read any of their works, or had no idea what I was talking about when I referenced their stories.

What, in good-God’s name, are they teaching in schools today?

So I recited this poem to her. She was surprised [1] that I had had memorized it and could recite it, and [2] that it was meaningful and had significance and application in her life.

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;
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;

Let’s not let these masterpieces be erased in a tsunami of political correctness. Let’s treasure the good, and discard the bad, and let us all take the road not taken…

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 marked 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.

Related Comment

Coincidentally, I found this gem in my LinkedIN feed today. Yes, everyone should read and know the classics. Especially those studying Literature and English.

Coincidentally, I found this gem in my LinkedIN feed today. Yes, everyone should read and know the classics. Especially those studying Literature and English.

Fictional Story Related Index

This is an index of full text reprints of stories that I have read that influenced me when I was young. They are rather difficult to come by today, as where I live they are nearly impossible to find. Yes, you can find them on the internet, behind paywalls. Ah, that’s why all those software engineers in California make all that money. Well, here they are FOR FREE. Enjoy reading them.

Stories that Inspired Me

Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.

Link
R is for Rocket
Space Cadet (Full Text) by Robert Heinlein
Link
Link
Link
Correspondence Course
Link
Link
Link
Link
Link
The Last Night
The Flying Machine
A story of escape.
All Summer in a day.
The Smile by Ray Bradbury
The menace from Earth
Delilah and the Space Rigger
Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby’s Is a Friend of Mine
Life-Line
The Tax-payer
The Pedestrian
Time for the stars.
Glory Road by Robert Heinlein
Starman Jones (Full Text) by Robert Heinlein.
The Lottery (Full Text) by Shirley Jackson
The Cold Equations (Full Text)
Farnham's Freehold (Full Text) by Robert Heinlein
Invisible Boy (Full Text) by Ray Bradbury
Job: A Comedy of Justice (Full Text) by Robert Heinlein
Spell my name with an "S" by Isaac Asimov
The Proud Robot (Full Text)
The Time Locker
Not the First (Full Text) by A.E. van Vogt
The Star Mouse (Full Text)
Space Jockey (Full Text) by Robert Heinlein
He who shrank (Full Text).
Blowups Happen by Robert Heinlein
Uncle Eniar by Ray Bradbury
The Cask of Amontillado
Successful Operation

My Poetry

My Kitten Knows

Articles & Links

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