by Robert Frost
What does this mean?
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
Once choices are taken, they lead to other choices, which leads to other choices, and so on.
You need to take those two lines in context of the entire poem.
http://www.bartleby.com/119/1.html
Frost is saying that as we follow our instincts and judgment, we go on to follow other routes from these decisions. He doubts if he will ever go back to take the second route because he'll have other roads to follow.
I agree completely with Ms Sue's interpretation.
"He doubts if he will ever go back to take the second route because he'll have other roads to follow."
What a great poem this is!
I had the good fortune to hear him recite that poem and others, 50 years ago, during his visit to my college. It's one of my fondest memories.
The lines you provided are from the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. The speaker in the poem is faced with a choice between two paths, and after taking one, begins to wonder what would have happened if they had taken the other path. The quoted lines express the speaker's contemplation and doubt about whether they will ever have the chance to go back and explore the other path.
To understand the full meaning of the poem, it is important to consider the context and the overall themes. "The Road Not Taken" explores themes of choices, individuality, and the idea of embracing the unknown. The poem suggests that the paths we choose in life have a significant impact on our future, and once we make a choice, it is unlikely that we will be able to revisit or fully experience the option we did not choose. The poem also reflects on the idea of regret, as the speaker seems to be pondering whether they made the right decision or if their life would have turned out differently had they chosen differently.
To further analyze and interpret this poem, you can read the entire poem and explore the imagery, language, and metaphors Frost uses. Additionally, considering Frost's own life and experiences may provide insights into his intentions and the deeper meaning behind this particular poem.