Point of View

“At the Crossroads” is told from the first-person point of view using the pronoun “I”. However, this isn’t immediately apparent, as the opening stanzas take a more omniscient tone. It’s not until the final stanza that the speaker makes themselves known through the first-person voice: “I used to wonder” (Line 13). This approach gives the reader a sense of scope, which conversely seems to take place within the speaker’s inner world. The speaker seems to strive for emotional distance while at the same time inviting the reader into their perspective. This acts as an act of misdirection, allowing the poet to convey their theme in a subtle and more indirect way.

Language and Meaning

The language of the poem is largely straightforward and accessible, with little to challenge the average reader. Certain words allow multiple interpretations, such as “surrender” (Line 4) or “fortune” (Line...