Frost

Frost told us of the road not travell'd
And we listened,
and nodded,
and we quote the words
when they seem appropriate.

But what about the word not said?
When we see
emotion
in its rawest form,
without words,
do we dare
extend
our hand
to a stranger?

Reviews

[LJW]

Wonderful sentiment.

We as humans would feel much more comfortable travelling down that untraveled road alone than we would offering a kind word to a stranger, I believe that is true. We have become bored with any kind of stimuli that is not electronic; person-to-person communication is becoming almost obsolete.

[MoonlitAngel]

So deeply thought into, and such emotion radiates from this poem, it's hard to imagine an everyday person wrote this. Very good, and it screams truth from the writer in every line. Writing is not something that is someone else's. It's what is what you feel. And you prove that in this poem. Keep writing. You've got amazing talent here.

--Blood

[Doctor JKC]

I guess, should we be dutiful to the craft,
the words have to be brought out in some
way, which will be so different for each
of us.
You're much better than most at this.
Huggies, Jack

[Touché Armada]

I get along much better with strangers than friends, friends can be soooooooo, soooo ummm whats the world I'm looking for? Demanding maybe? Mainly to never change beyond the bounds they have always known you to be within, its hard finding flexible friends, partners are even more impossible I dont recommend them at all. You don't have that trouble with strangers.

[Jibey]

It would require courage and a desire to abandon all...

I like the way you conjure up an intriguing thought on the back of Frost's words....

[Tony]

I say yes to this and I believe that most people will extend that hand, because it is a natural human reaction to act first and then think about it. In most circumstances, if we ask the reasons why we should or should not, it then becomes..."He who hesitates is lost" and the extended hand loses the emotion behind it.
Of course, in todays society there is much hesitation...which comes from fear or bad experiences.
In some instances, there need not be a word said, or a hand extended...it just exists between the parties involved, like a breeze from the same gust of wind.

Tony

[Phibby Venable]

i thought i had reviewed this already..but anyway, Emily, I love this piece. The word
not said can be the saddest thing and have such a devastating effect. very
beautiful work.

[Collect-Eye]

did you ever see that Dave Matthews video where the guy's giving out hugs..I have been thinking I need to go into Philly w/ a free hugs sign.

most of the time I try to treat strangers like a friend. it just works out better for everyone. [=

[Adrian K. Smith]

I have never paid much attention to poets, and could not quote one to save my life. There is that vague awareness though of somebody having mentioned at some point that there was a discussion of taking the road less traveled. I may even have been involved in the discussion, listening for a moment as the group consensus formed so that I might play Devil's advocate and nothing else be accomplished for the remainder of the class. Yes, that has a certain ring of truth to it. Still, here it is just about the case that more often than not people are not going to extend that helping hand to a stranger and trying to identify the reasoning behind it. I am not sure that everybody does it for quite the same reason, and even if two people have a general sense of the same reason - it is still going to be unique to the person as to why they do not do it. Some of the reasons may appear good or bad to others, as they judge them for not extending that hand. My question would be, why not take that road less traveled and not judge them for their reasons....

[An Ordinary Woman]

I love it when a poet writes about a poet. There is something so special about it to me.

I believe in extending a hand, Emily. I cannot say with honesty that I do it every time I see a need, that would be a boldfaced lie. I only try to do a small part when I'm able. Your poem is very profound and your words are very welcome.