Had worn them really about the same,,,

[albatross521]

Had worn them really about the same,
Though as for that the passing there.

the above is excerpt from Frost's famous poem "Road not taken".

Can anyone please explain to me what those two sentences mean?

[dr john]

You seem to have transposed the last two lines of the second verse. I think it means (if set in the correct order)

Though, as for that (the amount of wear on the two paths) the passing there (ie those people who had walked on them)
had worn them really about the same (the difference between the two was not great).

[Quizmonster]

You seem to have the two lines in reverse order...
He'd come to a fork in the road through a forest and gazed down one way for a long time but then took the other branch because it looked less well-worn...ie fewer people seemed to have used it. However, on that actual day, there was very little to choose between them, as both were covered in leaves which had not yet been walked on.

[Quizmonster]

Oops! There was no reply there when I started to type my response.

[dr john]

GMTA, Quizmonster.

[albatross521]

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,


the above is the 2nd stanza.

Is it contradictory that the poet first said it wanted wear and then said it was worn about the same as the first road?

[dr john]

Some reconsidering going on, I think. He says 'perhaps the better claim' then, after a pause for thought, admits there wasn't really that much difference after all. Bit like life really.

[jno]

... and yet he then goes on to say that his choice made all the difference to his life, which no doubt it did because every choice we make unfolds an infinity of further choices before us. So has he in fact taken the road less travelled, as he says? I've never been sure, and maybe he too is wondering if he didn't get it wrong all along.

[albatross521]

thanks all above.