The Road Not Taken - by Robert Frost
This is one of the most well-known poems in pop culture today. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most misinterpreted poems at that. People often interpret that taking the road less traveled is the better option. Some people live by this idea. However, that is not what the poem is actually saying. In fact, even in reality, taking the less traveled road may not be a good idea. For example, is it better to stick to the main lighted walkway at night, or to walk through a dark alley? Is it better to drive on the highway, or plow through a forest?
For those who don't know what I am talking about, give it a second read. You'd be surprised that it doesn't mean what a lot of people use it to mean today.
Poems can be translated many different ways that is why some people translate Robert Frosts, "The Road Not Taken" as taking the less traveled road. What matters is how you (the reader of the poem) translate the poem for yourself. What do you get out of it? If you think it means to take the road less traveled, then sure, let it be that. If you want to know exactly what the author of the poem is trying to say, then take a poetry class and dissect the poem or whatever. If you thought it meant to take the easier road so that life wouldn't be so hard on you and your upset at Frost, then you've misunderstood the poem, and in this case, I'd recommend re-reading it, because you should not be upset.
For me, this poem means choosing from two big life choices. One appears mostly traveled, and the other, not so much but either way, it doesn't mean one is easier than the other. Whichever life direction you go, they will both be difficult. You have to understand that the author has no way of knowing the future; of knowing which path in life will be easier or harder than the other. No one knows. No one still knows. But, you choose the path you think will work out better for you. Which doesn't mean it will work out better either.
You can take Frosts poem as it is too if trying to figure what he really means is difficult for you. He is simply using the road and forest and a path as metaphors for life. Both roads go into the forest. The forest is your future: it's the unknown future. The path is what tells you, you must make a choice. You can't take both roads, ALTHOUGH, Frost did write: "Oh, I kept the first for another day!" which meant he might take that road too but then he writes: "Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back," which means one thing will lead to another and he'll forget or he might enjoy the road he's on for the time being or whatever. Something will come up, which means, he probably wont' be able to come back to the road not taken.
Frost's poems are meant to make you feel a struggle or a dark sadness within yourself that may or may not translate into positiveness through trying times. If you don't feel that then...yeah, something's not right.
Anyway, Frost is awesome. I like this poem and "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening." They are timeless poems that question our deepest thoughts, desires, and motives.