Poem Analysis

Short 1

Cierra Short

Mrs. Whitley

English IV
20 March 2019
Senior Anthology - Poem Analysis
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” - Robert Frost
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 in grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” is a poem by Robert Frost published in 1923. The title
“Nothing Gold Can stay” suggests the theme of change, and how anything beautiful has potential
to become more, not lasting forever. In the title Frost promotes the word Gold, later symbolizing
the significance it has throughout the poem. Gold is considered as beauty, signifying that nothing
beautiful will last forever.
The first line of the poem says; “Nature's first green is gold.” This line explicitly reveals
that the poem will be speaking on the topic of nature, relating nature to gold which is considered
as beauty, is not the first thing we see. Think about a beautiful flower, the flower being apart of
nature does not start off as beautiful. In fact in order for the flower to become something
beautiful it must sprout through what many don't relate to beauty; dirt.
Throughout the poem there are three distinct associations the poem makes. These
distinctions being color, change, and time. Frost notions that time is ultimately against the
Short 2
seasons with the leaves of nature falling and changing color all too quickly. The focus of the leaf
later reveals the return of spring and coming about of temperature drop as the days fade away
and become shorter. Line six brings human relation and biblical reference to the Garden of Eden,
describing the grief and shame Adam and Eve felt from their disobedience. Then dawn comes
about, which is a temporary state messaging that you should take full advantage of what is
precious and valuable, what Frost refers throughout the poem as “gold,” because it always last.
In “Nothing Gold Can Stay” Frost's use of literary devices is very fluent. Alliteration,
hyperbole, allusion, and personification are all identified in Frost's poem to help associate the
three distinctions to Frosts deeper meaning of “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” In lines one and two
heavy alliteration can be identified. In line two Frost says; “Her hardest hue to hold,” stressing
the letter “h.” Frost also applies personification in the line by referring to nature as “her.”
In line four Frost commends hyperbole by stating “But only so an hour.” Here Frost
relates the quickness of the season change in nature to the time span of an hour, emphasizing that
the change was too quick. Line six recreates the biblical view of grief and shame seen by Adam
and Even through the application of allusion.
Nothing Can Stay Gold is mainly iambic trimeter rhyme scheme. Out of the eight
consecutive lines, lines one and two contain trochees and spondees. This rhyme scheme sets the
light toned mood and emphasizes when the mood shifts. In line five an attitude shift appears to
be prevalent through Frosts word choice of “grief,” and “down.” This attitude shift is more sad
due to all the change revolving around nature which is happening at a fast rate.
The title of the chosen poem says Nothing Gold Can Stay. In the title the world gold is
considered as beauty, but it won't be around forever. Throughout the poem Frost gives several
examples of how nothing beautiful stays, but most importantly he signifies the beauty in the title
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which is what readers view first. As nature's seasons change so abruptly, so does other parts of
nature such as time and color.
The themes in the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost, exemplify his deeper
meaning. Frost penetrates the idea that with beauty comes change and with change, nothing
beautiful will stay. Beauty has more to become and the potential to change into anything it
desires. He creates these themes by personifying nature, which is Frost's greatest strength
throughout the poem” Nothing Gold Can Stay.”

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Short 1

Senior Anthology - Poem Analysis

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” - Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,

beautiful will last forever.

and Even through the application of allusion.

nature such as time and color.

throughout the poem” Nothing Gold Can Stay.”

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