Chapter 5&6: Poem analysis

Chapter 5&6: Poem analysis

"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."

A poem written by Robert Frost. 

In the novel, Ponyboy recites this same poem to Johnny when witnessing a beautiful and tranquil sunset. In my opinion this poem has a way of saying in some ways that nothing can stay innocent or perfect forever. In other words "Nothing gold can stay" explains that something perfect such as someones innocence can drastically change or vanish. The first line of the poem,"Nature's first green is gold" in my opinion is stating that everything starts innocently or perfect like gold. Another line from the poem, "Her hardest hue to hold" explains that it can be difficult to hold on to the innocence or the perfections of life. A perfect, priceless moment may not last long as it can be explained in the line, "But only so an hour."

In relation to the book, the poem reflects on the events of the life they were accustom to which basically vanished before their eyes. One minute Ponyboy and Johnny casually takes a stroll on the street after movies with friends and two beautiful Socs, then the next minute they're running for their life for a crime Johnny committed. Ponyboy's oldest brother Darry is a great example in relation to the first and last sentence "Nature's first green is gold.....Nothing gold can stay". In the beginning Darry had a fortunate life of loving parents, an accepting group of friends, etc. But as it states in the poem even the most perfect moment cant stay "Nothing gold can stay." Now at the age of twenty, he continues to financially support two of his younger brothers due to their parents death which causes Darry to watch all of his hopes and dreams go down the drain. This poem can also relate to the other greasers as i'm sure they were all innocent and kind once in their younger years but life has a way of screwing things up in a matter of time as it is explained in the line, "Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour."