The Road Less Traveled

Apparently, a certain well known poem is now in the public domain. According to an article that I read on copyright law, the poem below is now owned by the public and not any particular author. So the question is, can I now claim that I wrote it?

Maybe the biggest stick in the craw of the now nameless author of this little missive, is that any part of this poem can be used to hawk anything from ladies panties to Snoop Dog’s next album title. “Easy wind and downy flake” could be a new line of toilet paper or bathroom fart mask spray. As for me I shall just embrace the words “Miles to go before I sleep” as a life motto and move on.

I am he as you are he you are me as we are all together. And on top of all that, I am the walrus and you are the egg man.

Goo goo g’joob

So in light of that thought, I give you this poem which we now all own. It is now part of us and we are part of it.

Whose woods these are I think I know.   
His house is in the village though;   
He will not see me stopping here   
To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   
To stop without a farmhouse near   
Between the woods and frozen lake   
The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   
To ask if there is some mistake.   
The only other sound’s the sweep   
Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   
But I have promises to keep,   
And miles to go before I sleep,   
And miles to go before I sleep.