Nothing Gold Can Stay

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Poem

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay.

Short Poem Analysis

"Nothing Gold Can Stay" is a short poem by Robert Frost, composed of only six lines. The poem talks about the fleeting nature of beauty and how everything beautiful fades away eventually. The poem begins by talking about the "green" and "gold" colors of nature in the springtime, which are short-lived and eventually give way to "leaf subsides" and "dawn goes down to day." The poem suggests that all good things in life, including youth, innocence, and love, eventually fade away and are lost. The final line of the poem, "Nothing gold can stay," serves as a powerful reminder that everything in life is temporary and must be cherished while it lasts. Through his use of natural imagery and concise language, Frost conveys a deep message about the transience of life and the importance of appreciating the beauty in our lives while we can.

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