Decisions are made every day, and the greater the number of choices, the more difficult it becomes to evaluate the opportunity cost of a particular option, especially when the outcomes I'm unknown. Everyone experiences a dilemma at some point in life, perhaps critical enough to alter one's destiny; some regret while others rejoice. This is the case of the narrator of “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, who is asked to choose his destiny. There is deep regret that he “could not travel both” only to settle for “the one less traveled” (19). Blanche Farley, however, tries to cheat out of remorse through her main character in "The Lover Not Taken"; a companion poem to "The Road Not Taken", only with a parodic twist. Although the poems share common characteristics of structure, style, and a common theme, there is a distinct difference in the imagery and perspectives in the respective poems. The poem "The Lover Not Taken" shares an identical structure with "The Road Not Taken", with an extra stanza containing two lines in which Farley inserts the punchline to emphasize a point. Both poems develop a unique rhyme scheme, where the first, third, and fourth lines rhyme; furthermore, the second and fifth lines end with rhyming words. Despite the use of similar words like “stood” (2) and “sigh” (16), Farley manages to create an unbridled and dynamic main character, while Frost portrays a slow pace. Farley, while describing a similar theme to that of Frost's poem, intentionally contradicts the ideas in "The Road Not Taken", only to unexpectedly choose the path "less traveled" - the path of lust rather than love (Frost 19) . She is willing to sacrifice an understanding lover for something that is perhaps a one night stand or worse. It's difficult... middle of paper ......stic and in many ways pessimistic and there is desperation even before the journey has begun. The poems, despite their differences, share a common theme and the poetic elements are matched well. Farley comes from a relatively modern era and reflects a bolder approach to decision-making than Frost. However, “The Lover Not Taken” adds a different dimension and further understanding to “The Road Not Taken”. The poems are certainly intended to enrich the philosophical ideas of their respective audiences, especially when compared. Works Cited Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken”. Literature and the writing process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan et al. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2007. 695-696. Print.Frost, Robert. “The Uncaptured Lover.” Literature and the writing process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan et al. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2007. 696-697.