For one hundred years, Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” has enchanted and challenged readers with its deceptively simple premise—a person reaches a fork in the road, facing a choice full of doubt and possibility. The Road Not Taken and Other Poems presents Frost’s best-loved poem along with other works from his brilliant early years, including such poems as “After Apple-Picking,” “The Oven Bird,” and “Mending Wall.” Award-winning poet and critic David Orr’s introduction discusses why Frost remains so central (if often misunderstood) in American culture and how the beautiful intricacy of his poetry keeps inviting generation after generation to search for meaning in his work.

Well, inspired by Maurice and Donald, I decided to take a whack at some poetry. Relatively classic, but I thought a safe beginning. I have to say that some of them were a bit of torture for me, and some I really quite enjoyed. I suppose I do like some poetry then eh? Always good to try new things now and then. Though, I did read it in bits over a few weeks, and I'm not sure I would enjoy reading poetry exclusively...there is some that I appreciate and that is good to know. ( )

Choices of past seem to be a theme with me lately it seems. Recently I was induced to read a collection of poetry for my book group. Luckily for me, one of America’s most beloved poets, Robert Frost, was chosen.
From Frost’s many collections, my friend chose Mountain Interval. These 30 poems were originally published in 1916. However, Frost made several changes to the collection’s sequencing and released the new (and improved?) edition in 1920.
I’ve read both the 1916 version and the 1920 version (thank God for libraries), and I don’t feel that it makes any difference as to the order. This collection contains one of the most well-known and cherished pieces of prose in American history: “The Road Not Taken.”
The collection is divided into six sections: Christmas Trees (probably my favorite ones), In the Home Stretch, Birches, The Hill Wife, The Bonfire, and Snow (my second favorite). Do I see another pattern here with the winter? Yes, I do love winter. And snow.
I give Mountain Interval 5 out of 5 stars ( )

Frost is one of the few great poets who can write narrative verse, including conversation, and have it work both as story and as verse. This collection is held together by a theme of the relationship between humans, each other, and the natural world. There is cruelty, often unintentional or unknowing. But there is beauty in the intersection and the conflicts that result.

"The Road Not Taken" leaves its ambiguous ending hanging there: is it celebration, regret, or is it a facile narrator missing his own point? And in "Snow" the complexities of human feelings swirl with the storm that challenges Meserve to heroism or is it foolishness, or is it love for his wife?

Frost has often been underestimated, more by his fans than by some post-modernists who seem to loathe his writing. This collection bears rereading and savoring for its depths. ( )

"Birches", "Snow", "The Bonfire" and others quite good.