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Question: Arguing with Robert Frost (3rd try)!. Did I win!?
The less travelled road
made all the difference!.
Each path we choose
(or is chosen for us)
could lead onward to joy
or to sorrow, because
we have no way of knowing!.
We can only guess
when on this path we tread
whether ultimately we'll lie
in a smooth
or a crumpled bed!.
This rests in the hands of fate!.
Once that bed is made
we must lie in it and wait
to see what each morning brings!.
Grey Autumn day or
Fresh crocus' Spring!.
But, I ask -
why no retracing steps!?
We can grasp fate by the throat
Say 'I'm in command'
And
rise from our bed
return to the fork in the road!.
Take the well travelled path
And see where that leads!.!.!.
instead!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I dunno- you present your case for the travelling of roads, all well and good, but Frost's poem doesn't come across to me as an argument to be beaten out, it seems more whimsical to me!. "I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference!." but the difference between what!? He doen't say if it's a good or bad result!. Surely he's more making a point about the way nostalgia and regret works- whatever road you travel by, you can end up wishing you had taken the other!.
Did you beat Frost!? Nah, not for me, but then, he`s a bit of an idol for me!. You have achieved fluidity, and introduced some rhyme, but he has natural speech, tight rhyme, and follows iambic pentameter across four neat stanzas!. His imagery is introduced immediately, but yours takes until the end of the first stanza to kick in, and even then it is brief!. I wish I had my book of Frost with me now, ah, that one about where he meets a tree in a swamp and has a conversation with it is one of my favourites!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
This is an ingenious poetic conceit!. However the herky-jerky rhythm of it indicates that the poetic road upon which you chose to travel is unpaved and full of pitfalls!. Maybe you should follow your own advice, and pave the way with a smoother meter!. Nevertheless, the idea is so compelling, that I was more than happy to put up with all those jolts and bumps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
You mistook your mistakes
On the less traveled road!.
Deal with it!.
Ok, not as eloquent as Frost surely!. I love the flow of it!. Just think that I interpreted the road less traveled differently when I first read it!. Cheers, Stay strong!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Thanks, Granny, for a brilliant reminder that we are responsible for ourselves, for our choices, for our plans and our dreams!.
Neither god nor the devil made you do a thing, you did it, earn the credit, take the blame!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Yes you did, very much so!. I've often thought that the road less travelled is held only in the mind, this illustrates that well!. And your last stanza is impacting!. We can grasp fate by the throat, though we do not want to!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I am not going to google to do the side by side because as I read this, to me, it flows well and presents the argument!. My compliments!.
Edit: Jeff, you are off in this in your comments!. Read again!. This flows well!. Where are you coming from!?!?!?!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
well done you did!.very well!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Well, shucks, I liked it!. Robert Frost, eat your heart out GJ has bested ya!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
yes you wonWww@QuestionHome@Com