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 marked 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
Desiderata / Found in Old St. Paul’s Church, Baltimore, MD (Dated: 1692)
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in
silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak
your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant,
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to
the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter;
for
always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements
as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a
real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business
affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let not this blind you to what virtue
there is;
many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be
yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in
the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly
the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength
of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many
fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle
with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe
is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive
him to be.
And whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life,
keep
peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful
world.
Be careful.
Strive to be happy.
