BA's Corner: The Road Less Traveled

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, 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

***

Many roads diverged in a smoggy, hazy horizon

And sorry I could not travel all (at least at first)
And be one traveller with a curious mind and a beautiful bride, long I stood (though not too long, because Sallie Mae was calling)

And looked down one as far as I could through risk analysis models and many long talks with the career center
To where it u-turned, exited, and sloped suddenly up and down the hills;

Then took the other, as just as fair, though scared but self-convincing
And having perhaps the better claim in my head because of the potential of the unkown,
Because it was long and lead to a rainbow;
Though Roswell, NM was on the path there
She would not let me deviate from the 7-day journey west, for we had massages ahead.

And both that morning equally lay
The Penske no boxes had been left within

Oh, I kept the comfort of our known surroundings for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I wondered if I would ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a cheer
Somewhere ages and ages hence, or next year:
Many roads diverged in a haze, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference in my long commute, thin pockets, and lack of happiness.