6.14.2010

The Road Not Taken


Sometimes when the words aren't there, you look to others to speak for you. Coincidentally enough, this poem has crossed our path more than once:


The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.



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; 5

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, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

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. 20

3 comments:

Tim D. Roth said...

So much love for you! And this poem. And for choosing something that HAS made a difference. So many days and months and even years have brightened considerably by trips to the Bike, or the possibility of going, or of a sandwich so simple and craveworthy. Regardless of what comes next, you've already created something legendary.

As Mary Oliver says in "Wild Geese":

...Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Louise said...

I found your blog all of 2 weeks ago; drank deeply of the archives and in my own compressed time event shared your amazing journey. And of course fallen into a deep funk over how short a road I had ahead of me with you. Good luck on the next adventure and I hope I can continue to read and be inspired about it here (or somewhere nearby). Egg sandwich planned for brunch this weekend in your honour.

Anonymous said...

This is such a beautiful poem. Thank you for everything you've both shared with us over the past few years. I feel like I know you two as business owners so well, your genuine honesty, openness and risking vulnerability is something that is unduly appreciated. This is a site I like to visit about once a month to see how you and Evan are doing as I don't live or commute to this area of town anymore really. And with the recent tragedy, I have been checking in more often. It is such a complete disappointment and I can't imagine how gut-renching for you two. I truly hope you and Evan find a beautiful new home for your terrific business. I can't imagine that this is something the neighborhood would just stand by and watch it close, without any action. Please continue to update this blog on the future of your tasty cafe and of course, keep us informed of how you both are doing. And....Happy Tenth Anniversary!(Wow!!)
Please take care Evan and Ali and I'll keep you in my thoughts.
~Anna