"You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here."

By Sam Yang - Get similar updates here

Max Ehrmann was an American writer, lawyer, and spiritualist, studying philosophy and law at Harvard University. He lived most of his life in his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana, practicing law and working in his family's meat packing plant. "Desiderata" was his most notable work, a poem on simple living. Desiderata is Latin for "something desired," poignant for a humble man who was largely unknown in his lifetime, only achieving fame after his death.

During the same period was an American poet named Robert Frost. Popular in his lifetime, Frost was regarded for his depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquialism, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Among the works of Frost, "The Road Not Taken," when paired with "Desiderata," achieves a consonance of tranquility. On their own, they stand as great works. In combination, textured by their history, they become a complete work. A parity between Eastern philosophy and American spiritualism. Just as ancient as it is modern. Christian as it is Taoist. A treatise on balance; whether a sheepherder or a big firm attorney, one can find relevance…