Full Answer Section

Inspired Poem:

Savanna Path

Two tracks stretched ochre in the sun, Across the plains where zebras run, And though my journey urged me forth, I paused, considering their worth, Where dust devils in the distance spun.

One path was wide, with prints aplenty, Of feet that sought a known intent; The other, narrow, whispered gently, Of untamed lands, held silently, A different story to present.

That dawn, both trails lay bathed in light, Undisturbed by hurried stride. “The well-worn way,” I thought that day, “Holds comfort, ease, and little fray,” Yet something wild deep down inside,

Now years have passed beneath the sky, And memories in my spirit lie: Two tracks diverged upon the land, and I— I chose the one where few did try, And that has shaped the life I ply.

Part 2: Reflection

Introduction:

This reflection explores the relationship between Robert Frost’s iconic poem “The Road Not Taken” and my original poem, “Savanna Path,” which was created as a work inspired by Frost’s piece. The aim is to analyze how the themes, imagery, and overall message of the inspiration piece influenced the development of my own creative work, while also considering the shifts and adaptations made to reflect a different cultural and geographical context – that of the Kenyan savanna.

Inspiration Piece:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, 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.  

• Title: The Road Not Taken
• Artist/Author: Robert Frost
• Year: 1916
• Place of Origin: United States

Background of the Inspiration Piece: “The Road Not Taken” is one of Robert Frost’s most famous and frequently analyzed poems. It is often interpreted as a celebration of individualism and the importance of making unconventional choices. However, some critics suggest that the poem carries a more complex and even ironic tone, highlighting the retrospective storytelling where the narrator emphasizes the significance of a choice that might not have been objectively more or less traveled. Frost himself reportedly joked about the poem’s misinterpretation, suggesting it was a gentle jab at his friend Edward Thomas, who often regretted the paths they didn’t take during their walks. The poem’s setting of a “yellow wood” evokes a sense of autumn and transition, symbolizing a moment of decision with lasting consequences.

Relationship Between “Savanna Path” and “The Road Not Taken”:

“Savanna Path” directly draws inspiration from the central metaphor of Frost’s poem: the choice between two diverging paths and the narrator’s reflection on the path chosen. I retained the core structure of four five-line stanzas and an ABABA rhyme scheme in each stanza, mirroring Frost’s original form. This structural parallel serves as a clear nod to the source material.

However, to adapt the poem to a Kenyan context and my own creative vision, I made several key changes in imagery and setting. The “yellow wood” of Frost’s New England landscape is transformed into an “ochre” savanna under the African sun. The paths, instead of being in a forest, stretch across the open plains where “zebras run,” immediately grounding the poem in a distinct geographical and cultural setting. This shift aims to evoke a different kind of wilderness and journey, one perhaps more suggestive of vastness and the presence of wildlife.

The thematic exploration of choice and its impact remains central. In “Savanna Path,” the narrator also stands at a juncture, considering the “wide” and well-trodden path versus the “narrow” one that “whispered gently / Of untamed lands.” The decision to take the less traveled path is driven by an inner yearning for something “wild” and different, echoing the implied sense of individualistic inclination in Frost’s poem.

The final stanza of “Savanna Path” mirrors the retrospective tone of “The Road Not Taken,” with the narrator looking back “years” later and reflecting on how the chosen path “has shaped the life I ply.” While Frost’s narrator speaks of telling this “with a sigh,” suggesting a possible element of wistfulness or even a touch of self-deception, the tone in “Savanna Path” is perhaps more declarative, focusing on the formative power of the less conventional choice.

Ultimately, “Savanna Path” is not intended to be a mere imitation of “The Road Not Taken,” but rather a re-imagining of its core concept within a new setting and with subtle shifts in emphasis. It uses Frost’s powerful metaphor of the diverging paths as a springboard to explore themes of choice, individuality, and the lasting impact of decisions within the context of the African savanna landscape, aiming to resonate with a potentially different set of cultural and personal experiences while acknowledging its poetic lineage.