"Nothing Gold Can Stay" poem lesson

[1] Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

[5] Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden* sank to grief,

So Dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

*The Garden of Eden is a paradise described in the biblical book of Genesis.

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Robert Frost (1874-1963) was one of the most popular and critically respected American poets

in history. His poems frequently employ rural scenes from the New England countryside. As you

read the poem, take notes on the use of imagery in the poem.

Notice the speaker refers to Nature as "her" - "Her hardest hue..."Her early leaf," comparing nature to a woman.

​Nature personified

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Lines 1-4

Nature's first "green" is "Her hardest hue (color) to hold" - seasons don't last. And, Her early flowers only last "an hour." Nothing lasts forever

​Meaning

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Lines 1-4

Leaf subdues, or overcomes, to leaf... leaves fall. "Eden" allusion refers to the Garden of Eden in the Bible, a perfect paradise. Even Eden "sank to grief," could not remain. Dawn, early morning, (capitalized, personified) goes away each day. Nothing lasts forever.

​Meaning

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden* sank to grief,

So Dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Lines 5-8