Famous poem confusion

1974 stamp

Adapted from Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com

There was an amusing moment at a college reunion I attended the other week in New Hampshire, near the heart of what might be called Robert Frost Country. At one of the events, a class officer dragged in a reference to what is among the most famous  poems in English, Frost’s “The Road Not Taken’’. This work is frequently quoted during graduations, reunions and similar events. The MC/class officer, who rambled on far too long, gave it the meaning that  we had bravely taken our own unique ways through life and probably come out fine.

But, as has been frequently noted, the poem is often grossly misinterpreted. (Frost himself warned that it’s “tricky.’’)  So a college roommate of mine, now a retired cancer surgeon, yelped as the MC finished his reference: “No, no! You’ve got it wrong!’’

“The Road Not Taken’’ is, among other things, about anxiety and indecision, of which most of us old people at reunion had experienced plenty.

Of course, I didn’t recognize most of the several hundred people at the reunion. At the same time, I sometimes found myself being recognized unsettling.

xxx

On the way back home I stopped at one of the two Granite State service plazas in Hooksett to get a sandwich. Such places, which used to be rather sedate, now have loud, boring rock music – to appeal to younger customers? But maybe it will be younger people who lead a revolt against America’s inescapable  culture of cacophony.