1. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost
Context: While they hid at the church in Windrixville, Johnny recites this poem to Ponyboy. He says, “I always remembered it because I never quite got what he meant by it” (Hinton 78).
Tasks: Poems often pack a lot of information in a little amount of text. Complete the following tasks to conduct an analysis of the poem. (Hit the space bar after each task.)
1. First, determine the poem’s RHYME SCHEME. A RHYME SCHEME is simple the pattern of rhyming in the poem.
Steps for labeling a rhyme scheme:
Place the letter A after the last word in LINE 1 (gold).
Look at the last word in LINE 2. Does it rhyme?
YES! So put the letter A after the word HOLD too. Your first two lines will have the letter A at the end. This shows lines 1 and 2 rhyme with each other.
Look at the last word in Line 3 – FLOWER. Does that rhyme with GOLD and HOLD?
NO! So put the letter B after the word flower.
4. Look at the last word in LINE 4. Does it rhyme with Gold or Flower? What letter should you give that line?
Follow this pattern for the rest of the poem. In the end, your rhyme scheme can be expressed with 8 letters. Can you identify the pattern? Now go on to the next page!

2. Let’s Find Some Meaning!
Couple means TWO. This makes sense!
2. Separate the poem into two line couplets. (Click to see how this is done.)
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.

3. Nature’s first green is gold,
Couplet #1
Here’s the part where you’re going to write all over your poem sheet!
Circle this word on your sheets. If something is gold, it is .
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
A hue is a color.
Think: In Michigan, we know very well what that first green of spring is like to us. The pinks and reds yellows of spring don’t last long though. What happens to the colors of spring?

4. Her early leaf’s a flower.
Couplet #2
Here’s the part where you’re going to write all over your poem sheet!
Her early leaf’s a flower.
But only so an hour.
Spring flowers certainly last longer than an “hour.” What is the writer saying about those spring colors? Note this on your paper.
Think: Can you see a similarity between lines TWO and FOUR? What is common about the first green and the early leaves of spring? Make a note of this similarity on your paper.

5. Then leaf subsides to leaf.
Couplet #3
Here’s the part where you’re going to write all over your poem sheet!
This verb means reduces or diminishes. The leaves of spring become the summer leaves.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
According to The Bible, this was a place of perfect beauty. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, sin was created.
Think: Can you see a similarity between these two lines and the other connections you’ve made? Make note of it on your paper.

6. So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. Couplet #4
Here’s the part where you’re going to write all over your poem sheet!
The beginning of the day.
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Think: What is the one similar element of each couplet? What similar thing happens in each one?

7. ALLITERATION
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in words real close to each other.
I’ve underlined an example of alliteration for you. Label this example on your poem, and then label any other examples you can find. I think there are at least 2 other examples.
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.

8. Personification Label the personification in this 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.

9. Make the Connection!
What do you think is the meaning of this poem, and how does it relate to Ponyboy’s comments at the beginning of page 65?