Who hasn’t read Robert Frost’s poem in high school?! And analyzed its meaning…turns out Frost wrote it as a playful poke to his good friend!

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
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.

Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is one of the most iconic poems in English literature, often quoted as a profound meditation on choice and destiny. However, the poem’s origins are much more lighthearted than its somber reputation suggests.

In the early 20th century, Frost became close friends with the English writer Edward Thomas. Their frequent walks together through the countryside were often punctuated by Thomas’s indecisiveness. Whenever they reached a fork in the path, Thomas would agonize over which way to go, fearing that he might be missing out on something better.

Amusingly, Frost decided to write a poem as a gentle parody of his friend’s indecisiveness. “The Road Not Taken” was a lighthearted jab at Thomas, painting a humorous picture of a traveler faced with two equally appealing paths. The poem’s narrator ultimately chooses one path, but later claims that the choice “made all the difference,” despite the paths being equally worn.

Frost sent the poem to Thomas, expecting his friend to get a good laugh. However, Thomas misinterpreted the poem’s intent, believing it to be a serious reflection on life’s choices. This misunderstanding was a bit of a disappointment for Frost, but it also highlighted the poem’s deeper potential.

Over time, “The Road Not Taken” has taken on a life of its own. Its evocative imagery and timeless themes have resonated with countless readers, who have interpreted the poem in a variety of ways. While Frost originally intended the poem as a joke, its enduring popularity is a testament to its power and its ability to speak to the human experience.

(While the poem is most commonly known as “The Road Not Taken,” it was also published under the title “The Road Less Traveled.” This is likely due to a minor error made by the poem’s publisher.)