Poetry is a unique form of writing, and reviewing poetry requires a deep understanding of the components that constitute a poem. Poetry allows us to express feelings and emotions that are inside us all. It can also be put into any of these broad sub-genres: narrative, dramatic, or lyric. Often times people associate poetry with a short, and confusing group of words that usually leaves people scratching their heads, but surprisingly a poem can also be a favorite song.
Songs are considered poetry as well because it gives people the ability to connect emotionally with the lyrics that are being sung. Just like a poem, songs can convey a meaning, significance, or message that people are able to attach to the song. The song, “Warning Sign” by Chris Martin, and the poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost both communicate a similar message of the decisions we make in life, and the consequences that come along with those choices.
The poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost states that in life we come upon many tough choices, and there are pivotal points where we have to let fate take the lead. Every person on this Earth is faced with the one choice in their life that will make a difference for the remainder of their life. Some experience this early on, and for others it doesn’t come until later, but inevitably, we are all faced with these defining moments.
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In this poem, Frost uses a fork in the road as a symbol for a life choice. This choice will ultimately lead to another fork in the road Wood 2where the person will have to make another decision, and this pattern will continue for the rest of their life. The road symbolizes the life of the traveler, and the two paths symbolize the choices he is forced to make. Frost helps us better understand the meaning of this poem by his use of tone and literary devices such as metaphors and symbolism.
For example, “Yet knowing how way leads on to way/ I doubted if I should ever come back” (Frost). These two lines help symbolize the message that once a choice is made, the person on the path can not go back to change his, or her, decision. Towards the end of the poem, there is a noticeable change in the tone of the man from uncertainty to regret when he discovers once a path is chosen, he can not go backwards to choose the other path. Frost also uses his tone in this poem to show the ruefulness that the man feels for the choices he has made so far.
For example, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood/ And sorry I could not travel both” (Frost). Frost clearly wants the reader to see that he struggles with making his decision, but knows he is forced to make a choice in order to continue on the path of life. Ultimately, Frost does an excellent job of giving his audience a better understanding, and meaning, of life’s choices and consequences through the use of poetry.
Similar to “The Road Not Taken”, the song, “Warning Sign” by Chris Martin, symbolizes a choice made by a man, and then later in life he regrets the choice he has made. In this song, the man takes someone he has loved for granted, and does not realize he made the wrong choice until it is too late. Martin is best known for his use of metaphors and symbolism in his songs. The best example of this is when he says, “you were an island and I passed you by/ And you were an island to discover” (Martin). The island symbolizes the woman, and him passing the island by is a metaphor for him taking her for granted, and not seeing what was in front of him Wood 3the entire time.
This is also true when he says, “I missed the good part, then I realized” (Martin). These lines form a true connection with Martin’s audience because we often take one path, thinking it’s the right one, and in hindsight wish we had taken the other. Martin makes the audience experience emotions of regret, and sorrow, by putting into words what people feel emotionally when we lose someone because of the choices we have made. Essentially, life is full of choices, some predetermined, and others are chosen on the spot. Sometimes there are monumental moments that will affect the rest of someone’s life, whether they are aware of it, or not.
The poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, and the song, “Warning Sign” by Chris Martin are about one of those defining moments where one choice will change the course of a person’s life. After a choice is made, the person’s life will change for the better, or for worse, but unfortunately we never know until we travel down one path. The message we can gather from these two poems is that life will hit you with tough choices, we just need to be ready when it is our turn to decide if we should go left, or right.
References
- Poetry Foundation
- Academy of American Poets
- Poem Hunter
- All Poetry
- Verse Daily
- The Writer’s Almanac
- Tweet Speak Poetry
