I was in Year 10. By then, I'd already made up my mind about becoming a Journalist. Secretly, I already knew I wanted to write fiction but at the time didn't think I had the strength to make it as a fiction writer. In some ways, I did not have the courage to take the risk. Becoming a Journalist seemed the safest choice of them all. But I digress.
I was in year 10. It was the year I realised how much I hated high school save for English and Satire classes. I lived for those two classes. Our English class was studying Animal Farm and at the end of the year, I aced that exam. I'm still proud of that moment.
It was also the year I discovered Robert Frost and his poetry. It was his words, his poems that brought forth my passion for words.
My English Teacher - in all his wisdom, not only introduced me to the wonder of George Bernard Shaw, George Orwell (And the wonderful political story in the guise of Animal Farm) but also Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken and Fire and Ice.
The Road Not Taken
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;
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,
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.
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.
I can't even begin to tell you how much these poems touch me. Few poems do. I like poetry but I don't love poetry except for Frost. Well Frost, and Alfred Noyes and his equally amazing poem The Highway Man.
The Road Not Taken is a narrative poem - and can be seen as someone regreting his action or expressing self-satisfaction at the road he chose to take. It's up to the reader to decide what the poet felt and in doing so, perhaps feels it themselves.
It's a beautiful poem and one I always have held close to my heart. It made me want to write. It made me want to write poetry and envious that I will never be able to write poetry as beautifully as this. My poetry tends to be emotional and sometimes downright depressing.
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;
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,
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.
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.
I can't even begin to tell you how much these poems touch me. Few poems do. I like poetry but I don't love poetry except for Frost. Well Frost, and Alfred Noyes and his equally amazing poem The Highway Man.
The Road Not Taken is a narrative poem - and can be seen as someone regreting his action or expressing self-satisfaction at the road he chose to take. It's up to the reader to decide what the poet felt and in doing so, perhaps feels it themselves.
It's a beautiful poem and one I always have held close to my heart. It made me want to write. It made me want to write poetry and envious that I will never be able to write poetry as beautifully as this. My poetry tends to be emotional and sometimes downright depressing.
The second poem of Frost's that always makes me well up inside is Fire and Ice.
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Some of you may recognise this it from the beginning of Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse. It's supposed to be inspired by Dante's Inferno and perhaps it is, but for me it's one of the mostly beautifully written but simple poems I have ever encountered.
The poem asks you to think about what force is more destructive. Is it Fire (Desire/love) or is it Ice (Hate)? The Poet believes that the world will probably be destroyed by Fire (Desire, greed, lust etc) but acknowledges that hate will destroy just as effectively.
I only know discovering these poems opened me up to a whole new world. I realised that not all poetry is dreary and boring. It can be inspirational, exciting and breathtakingly beautiful. It can evoke feelings of love, passion and make even the worst poets want to write poetry. It inspires.
If you have not read The Road not Taken or Fire and Ice, please take the time to do so and reflect on it. Take it in, ponder it and embrace it in all its glory.
What poems inspire you?
Such a beautiful post. :) I had similar experiences. I couldn't stand any class in school aside from English. I too was into journalism at first but then I switched my major. I love the poem you posted by Robert Frost, it's one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I think so too.
ReplyDelete