Analysis: Nothing Gold Can Stay

I love this poem. Although it’s short, it’s simplicity makes it’s use of imagery and language so elegant. I believe the meaning of nothing gold can stay by Robert Frost is the idea that nothing lasts forever. In time love fades, living things die and situations are constantly changing. Right away we become aware of the setting from the first line “nature’s first green is gold.” From this line the imagery paints an idea of lush green forests in springtime. It’s probably springtime because spring is a symbol of leaves changing to green and before leaves turn green they are a yellowy gold. I love the personification of nature’s ability to hold the color gold in the line “her hardest hue to hold”, which he says is the hardest for nature to maintain. In my head I see nature reaching her hand out and having gold paint slip through the grip of her hands. The window of time that the leaves are golden is small and for most is easily missed. Another message could be that a stimulus that is more salient has the tendency to over shadow other ones. For example when spring comes to mind most people automatically see green because it is so overpoweringly obvious and common, however this phenomenon makes it possible for other small important details to be overlooked and underappreciated. It’s probably not until something small is pointed out by others that we start to acknowledge it. Even after reading this poem I will probably find myself staring at changing colors in plants around us and possibly trying to find the gold in nature. The next two lines continue to add to the idea of inevitable time. The fact that flowers appear early in spring but don’t last long as their petals fall due to wind, and and death and after the beautiful flower has fallen the leave returns to just its simple self, a leave again. The line “Eden sank to grief” is a biblical reference to when Adam and Eve were banned from the garden of eve after she ate the forbidden fruit, which resulted in grief and punishment for them and their decedents. The second to last line “so dawn goes down to day” signifies a change in the poems turn. This line is stating that as dawn goes away, it’s time for the day to continue and despite the golden hue leave, the flowers falling, and grief the day will go on. Although there may be events in life that are earth shattering, such as loss, there will always be the next to day (until death obviously) to make try again or to experience something new. I love how the last line mirrors the title. “Nothing gold can stay” just again restates more clearly how many things in life that are beautiful do not last long and need to be appreciated and valued for their time is limited. This poem really puts in perspective that the simple things in life that make life so beautiful need to be cherished.