Life: A Choice

Dear Mr. Frost,

As a fellow writer myself, I wanted to recognize your ability to demonstrate the options and the “TWO roads” (Frost)… people must choose from. This is mentioned in your poem The Road Not Taken. As I read the tile I could not understand your reasoning. Everybody takes a different road. Some might be similar but the single act of being born under different parents means a different road. Maybe you are referring to a broader road (good and evil). If so please clarify. It is very important to be able to recognize your objectives, and, based upon them select a path. If that path does not work out try the next one. In my teachings I many times mention death and how “Some things are up to us and some are not up to us (1, Epictetus).” This is an important distinction, which permits us to live peacefully. In my Handbook I mention a master who’s slave boy did a wrong thing. He can choose between hitting the boy or not. Life is filled with crossroads and choices, and deciding which ones to pay attention to and which ones not to is very important.

After doing a little close reading I realized that the character in your poem picked “…the one less traveled by” (Frost). This act proved to make a big difference but I would like to know if it was for the good or for the bad. The way in which your poem is written does not invite the reader to listen to what you are saying. If you simply read a piece of my writing you will notice how direct it is. There is little room for interpretation and my message gets across. This is harder to do in your poem and an inexperienced reader will not get your point. I suggest that you change your style and make it more universal. A great idea can be lost if it is told in the wrong way. And that is your case. Still, I admire your understanding of the choices in life. Many hope to get there some day.

Sincerely,

Epictetus