He's also talking about how we tend to glorify our decisions after the fact. There really wasn't much difference between the trails. There probably wouldn't have been any long tern difference in his life had he taken the other fork. He suggests that in the future he'll unconsciously reinterpret it as being the road less traveled to see himself as being the nonconformist and nonconformity as being the key to his success..
It is a many layered poem. Another layer is the regret for things that might have happened had the other fork been taken. We only know what we experience and can only speculate/fantasize on what we don't. He knows he'll probably never be that way again and the other route stays forever lost to him. The arrow of time moves on.
I've even heard it misinterpreted in automobile commercials.
Thanks Fred. So many layers can be read into this poem, can't they. I think that's why it has captured the English-speaking world's collective imagination.
Come to think of it, I think I've seen it in an automobile ad too.
I’ve never heard this full poem before and I’m glad my first encounter had a full Australian explanation to go alongside it. Fascinating! And thank you for the mention 🙏🏼
You're welcome Amie. Although I'm relieved to have placed Frost's poem first so that your first experience with it was magical rather than with my bastardisation of it :)
That's a great line, Alan :) Yes, everyone has their own interpretation (or moustache). That was actually the topic of my very first essay here on Substack (minus the moustache. I wish I knew that then):
I bet if they taught the Australian version in schools, more kids would be interested in poetry 😂
Haha, ok, good idea. I'll petition the Board of Education 😂
A wonderful post, thank you. I enjoyed the Monday morning mind flex.
Thank you Leslie, you've brought a smile to my face.
Well, you certainly made it clear that this poem was meant as a joke. I love the Australian interpretation. Now I get it!
Thanks Carrie. 😀
Funny! Very funny! And so true.
He's also talking about how we tend to glorify our decisions after the fact. There really wasn't much difference between the trails. There probably wouldn't have been any long tern difference in his life had he taken the other fork. He suggests that in the future he'll unconsciously reinterpret it as being the road less traveled to see himself as being the nonconformist and nonconformity as being the key to his success..
It is a many layered poem. Another layer is the regret for things that might have happened had the other fork been taken. We only know what we experience and can only speculate/fantasize on what we don't. He knows he'll probably never be that way again and the other route stays forever lost to him. The arrow of time moves on.
I've even heard it misinterpreted in automobile commercials.
Thanks Fred. So many layers can be read into this poem, can't they. I think that's why it has captured the English-speaking world's collective imagination.
Come to think of it, I think I've seen it in an automobile ad too.
That ocker chic version made my day! Brilliant!
Ha! Thank you Andredge. I'm relieved to hear it. I half expected it to be met with horror at the sacrilege.
I’ve never heard this full poem before and I’m glad my first encounter had a full Australian explanation to go alongside it. Fascinating! And thank you for the mention 🙏🏼
You're welcome Amie. Although I'm relieved to have placed Frost's poem first so that your first experience with it was magical rather than with my bastardisation of it :)
That's a great line, Alan :) Yes, everyone has their own interpretation (or moustache). That was actually the topic of my very first essay here on Substack (minus the moustache. I wish I knew that then):
https://mindflexing.substack.com/p/i-think-i-know-precisely-what-you-dont-mean