POETRY SPOT – 2 POEMS

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The Few

- Edgar A Guest

The easy roads are crowded

And the level roads are jammed;

The pleasant little rivers

With the drifting folks are crammed.

But off yonder where it's rocky,

Where you get a better view,

You will find the ranks are thinning

And the travelers are few.

Where the going's smooth and pleasant

You will always find the throng,

For the many, more's the pity,

Seem to like to drift along.

But the steeps that call for courage,

And the task that's hard to do

In the end result in glory

For the never-wavering few.

__________

Analysis:

From:

https://allpoetry.com/The-Few

This poem explores the concept of individuality and the rarity of those who dare to venture beyond the ordinary. While the easy and pleasant paths are crowded with the masses, the difficult and challenging ones are traversed by only a select few. The speaker suggests that true worthiness lies in the arduous journey, where courage and determination lead to glory, rather than in the comfortable paths taken by the majority. The poem reflects the ideals of individualism and self-reliance prevalent during its time period and echoes the theme of choosing the "road less traveled" from Robert Frost's famous poem.

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The Road Not Taken

- 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.

__________

Analysis:

https://allpoetry.com/The-Road-Not-Taken

This poem explores the theme of choice and its consequences, with the speaker faced with a decision between two paths. The choice is not straightforward, as both paths appear equally promising. However, the speaker ultimately chooses the path that has been less traveled, despite its potential risks.

The poem's simple language and straightforward structure contrast with the weighty decision the speaker faces. The use of rhyme and repetition creates a sense of rhythm and balance, adding to the poem's memorability.

Other works by the same author often explore similar themes of nature, choice, and the human experience. This poem is no exception, but it stands out for its universal appeal and its ability to resonate with readers across time periods.

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