Two paths diverged in a forest one day,
But I couldn’t decide to go or not one way.
I stood at the fork and my mind did sway,
Till the sun did the inevitable and had its say.
So I curled up and down my head I did lay,
Until the morning woke me up with the suns first ray.
I’d hoped for inspiration, a dream of the way,
But nothing was been forthcoming and I was left with the day.
To decide, to decide, but my mind did stray,
So at that fork I did stay, I did stay.
I didn’t take any path or less traveled way.
And that I regret every night and every day.
For to make a decision to go one way,
At least the decision is made, let come what may.
I am not the worlds greatest decision maker (maybe because I am a Gemini if you believe in star signs). I can make big decisions when they have to be made but it is the little ones that stump me; lamb korma or buttered chicken, chocolate mousse or a hot fudge brownie etc.
This poem was obviously inspired by Robert Frost's great 1920s poem 'The Road Not Taken', and was my attempt to deal with this flaw in my character and get through to myself that in reality not making a decision is worse than just making on and enjoying the ride.
What do you think?
And do you have any feedback on the poem? Should the fourth line rather say "Till the sun began to set and had it’s say"?
Could the eleventh line rather be "I didn’t take any path, I kept the decision at bay,"?
(This poem was posted for the dVerse Poets Pub poetic prompt 'Choice'; Thanks guys! )
Another form of choice, this needs to be updated but valid.
nice flash back on the pic....i can tell the homage in the poem...and what a life, choosing to not choose and just being stuck in that decision all your life...come what may...nice rhyme scheme to this as well..
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments and feedback Brian, much appreciated!
DeleteAnd you, like Claudia below, hit on an important point, not making a decision is actually making a decision and has its own consequences.
To choose the road is really tough; sometimes we let others decide for us but we will never know if its the "right" until we try ~
ReplyDeleteLike the rhyming words as well ~
http://a-sweetlust.blogspot.ca/2012/06/of-green-apples-and-bikes.html
Well said, and thanks for the feedback,
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading your poem now, look out for a comment!
sometimes it's good to sleep a night over it before we make a decision...but eventually, we have to make one or stay where we are and that's a choice as well then...nicely penned
ReplyDeleteLike I said to Brian above Claudia, dankeschun for all the comments and feedback!
DeleteAnd you, like Brian, got the key message, not making a decision is actually making a decision and has its own consequences.
Your poem evokes the anxiety in many choices. I find it interesting that you talk about the Gemini in you. That would lead me to believe that many of your choices are predetermined by something that in many respects negates choices, Perhaps this is an aspect of your poem that is less spoken; that is how much of actions are predetermined and simply not choices at al.
ReplyDeleteWell said, that got me thinking through a few things. I like to think i'm in control of my life and choices but looking back i'm not always sure that's that case.
DeleteThanks for the thoughts!
Certain poems remind me of certain songs, its due to some chemical imbalance or other. So I started singing Should I stay or Should I Go? Thats good, because poems that make me sing, I like ;-)
ReplyDeleteWho said the drugs dont work?
There's an old saying in my neck of the woods, "The boy done good" I think that applies rather well here.
Haha now you've got me singing it in my head! Fun song.
DeleteThanks for the feedback
Those closing lines are lovely, regrets, to make a choice at least means you are on your way to somewhere doesn't it?! Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Vanessa!
DeleteExcellent poem. I thought at first that the rhyming of every line become intrusive. I did not. I very much like what you did here.
ReplyDeleteCheers Dave, interesting to read your comment, made me go back and read through the poem again concentrating on the rhyming, thanks for that.
DeleteI can relate with these words more than you know. I have the same problem with decision making (I'm also a Gemini)and have been stuck at many intersections in my life. "The Road Not Taken" is one of my favorites by Robert Frost and I wrote a version of it myself a couple years ago.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear that Dana!
DeleteYou should post your poem in a reply on this page, I'd like to read it.
Thanks for the comment as always!