The content of "The Road Not Taken" appears formal, moralistic, and American on first reading, and this has made all the difference. These three lines, which conclude the poem, are its most renowned. They have become an iconic representation of freedom: you can travel down any one of a number of roads outside of Washington, D.C., and reach your destination - but only one of them will be taken up by another traveler at some point. Thus the poem's title: there are many paths that lead away from D.C., but only one path continues onto history. The poem was written by Robert Frost after the death of his father. He had traveled to Massachusetts to attend the funeral and upon his return home decided to write about his experiences. The poem is divided into two sections: in the first, Frost describes his journey home; in the second, he reflects on life and mortality. Frost was a prominent American poet during the 20th century. His work is still read today for its depiction of nature and everyday life.