The Duty Station Not Taken

Last week, I challenged my high school juniors to take Robert Frost’s most celebrated poem and write their own version. The assignment instructed them to write about being faced with a decision, something they were unsure of, but might change them in some way.

The only catch was that they had to follow the same rhyme scheme modeled in the poem, and they had to keep the last original line.

While we were brainstorming, our discussion led to choosing what they wanted to do after they graduated. Some knew exactly what they wanted, while others were unsure of what the right “path” looked like.

Some were fearful that if they didn’t make the right choice, all would be lost (Oh, to be 17 again!).

I shared with them how frustrating it can be for military spouses who often face the daunting task of ranking duty stations. I explained that the list isn’t set in stone and that, in spite of careful researching and planning, we ultimately go where the military needs our service members.

I try to write with my students whenever I can, and I promised that I would also take the challenge. Below are my efforts to do Mr. Frost a little  military-style justice.

The Duty Station Not Taken

Two duty stations diverged on a list,

And sorry, we could not select them all.

And together, we spoke of the choices in our midst,

And debated the places for as long as we wished.

To finally select our favorite when the manager did call.

But Branch gave us the other, and thought it to be fair,

In their eyes having, perhaps, the better claim.

And told us that we would be no “worse for the wear,”

As a “sexier” job surely awaited us there.

Leaving the top pick, sadly, without our name.

And as disappointment took hold of my heart,

I let go of the zip code I would not yet possess.

Oh, I vowed to keep the first choice from tearing me apart,

And accepting the military’s decision, I chose to be smart.

As I couldn’t let my regret lead to distress.

I shall be telling this story someday with a sigh,

As somewhere down the road, this will all make sense.

Two duty stations diverged on a list, and I

I—I mean, we—took the one less traveled by.

And that has made all the difference!