Thursday, September 4, 2008

The Road Not Taken

This is one of the poems taught in the Literature Component in Form 4. Written by Robert Frost it's loosely themed around choices. You can actually listen to him read the poem here. Some of my readings pointed towards him just putting together something to remind him of what his friend and he would do...walk in the woods together, his friend always found it difficult to choose when they come to a fork, hence the poem, as a joke or some sort. Coming to a fork is something not uncommon in the woods. Anyway, over the years, because it was written by a literary great...it has taken on its own interpretation. That's how works of art can be. They can take on a life of their own.

Today is a day where there is this sense of despondency, compounded by the dark and dreary sky. It was raining quite heavily when I left the house to send Lil Rainbow and friend to school. Somehow this poem came to mind...along with it, a whole plethora of mixed feelings and emotions and all kinds of thoughts.

Like the author, we often have to come to a decision. And in our lives here on earth, it's something that we have to do every day. With each decision, its consequences which we have to bear with. In the process of executing each decision, it not only affects us but also those around us. Sometimes we make them happy, other times we cause them hurts at different degrees. At other times still, anguish untold. But at the end of it, there are consequences which we, only we ourselves will have to bear.

The problem that I grappled with this morning was why bad things can happen to good people. The answer...and with a sigh!....because good people are not exempted from making unwise choices too sometimes. Remembering Yi Jien, hoping against all hope...but read on Kim Guat's email...an amazing lady she is!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Robert Frost's Stopping by woods on a snowy evening is part of my homeschool reading..:)
excerpt..
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep...
loved that part for many years before I found that it was part of the bigger poem....like finding an old friend again...

Anonymous said...

Hi Monay :wave: :wave:
long time no kaypoh with u

Anonymous said...

Hi PP :wave :wave
I have been reading your blog too... so do not feel that I am not kay pohing with u :) like you latest poem... about travel... but why am I saying that here?????
monay

AJ7 said...

ha! ha! all kay po-ing...more lau-yet...

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