Nothing Gold Can Stay
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.
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” was written by the American poet Robert Frost in 1923 and published in the collection “New Hampshire” which earned him the first of his four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry
The poem is based on the idea that nothing beautiful, fresh, or pure can last forever and uses nature and the Garden of Eden as metaphors for the cycles of life and death and the loss of innocence .
In the second half of the poem the language that emphasizes sinking or descending, describes the path of everything, which was once beautiful an pure and must necessarily end in or underground.
Niente che sia d’oro resta
Il primo verde è dorato in Natura,
una tinta che difficilmente perdura.
Il fresco germoglio sulla fronda
foglia su foglia presto sprofonda,
rimasto lo spazio di brevi ore.
E come l’Eden affondò nel dolore,
rapido il giorno sull’aurora si assesta.
Niente che sia d’oro mai resta.
(trad. L.Z.)
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” fu scritto dal poeta americano Robert Frost nel 1923 e pubblicato in una raccolta dal titolo “New Hampshire” che gli valse il primo dei suoi quattro premi Pulitzer per la poesia
La poesia, in rima baciata, si basa sull’idea che niente di bello, fresco o puro può durare per sempre e usa la natura e il Giardino dell’Eden come metafore dei cicli di vita e morte e della perdita dell’innocenza.
Nella seconda parte il linguaggio che sottolinea l’affondare o il discendere descrive il percorso di ogni cosa, una volta bella, giovane e pura, che deve necessariamente finire a terra o sotto terra.
Image – Flickr – Boston Public Library: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (The Holy Bible, ornamented with engravings by James Fittler, 1795)
Wonderful poem and interpretation. Although somewhat familiar with Frost, I did not know this poem.
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I am really happy to know that you discovered something new, 🙏🌺🙏🌺
I found the Italian translation quite complex because I wanted to keep the musicality of the couplets
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Your translation skills are quite impressive. 😉
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You are too generous with your words
Thanks a million 🙏💕🙏
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Molto bella 🌹Buon pomeriggio carissima Luisa 🌹❤
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Grazie, sempre
Buon pomeriggio a te 🌹🍂🌹
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I love the fresh green of early spring–it is a little pale, a little fragile, very bright, very endearing. It is true that you kind of feel that such kind of beauty will not last long. Hahaha. Nowadays I feel that a year can pass by in a blink of an eye…
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Many thanks, 🙏🙏🙏
I appreciate your nice reflection on this. Yes, indeed
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Conosco questa poesia per averla letta da poco. Un autore Frost che mi piace molto. Grazie quindi per averne parlato. Un abbraccio cara Luisa e buon pomeriggio di week end. Isabella
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Grazie, Isabella carissima
Buon pomeriggio a te con un forte abbraccio 🤗😘🤗
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Luisa cara ti auguro di passare una dolce sera. Baci
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🙏🤗🙏😘💜
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Molto bella, non la conoscevo 🙂
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Wonderful!
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Thank you very much!
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You’re welcome 😇
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As always, you’ve given another great interpretation of somebody’s words, and I can understand where Robert Frost is coming from – but it is only half a story. The other half is that as someone gets older they may lose their youth, vitality and good looks, but they gain the experience of a withered old tree.
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You’re right, but I’d be lying if I told you that I just wouldn’t trade my age for a younger age: the last few years. and decades have been flying in an unstoppable way.
Such as magnetic levitation trains
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But being young doesn’t mean to say that you’re going to grow old. At least those years are under your belt 🙂
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Undeniably!
Have a lovely evening 🍷
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Molto bella e devo dire che i suoi versi esprimono una gran verità. Come sempre grazie Luisa e buon pomeriggio 😘
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Grazie di cuore, Giusy cara e buon pomeriggio 😘
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Bella poesia, buon pomeriggio 🙂
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Grazie, Silvia… e buon pomeriggio a te 🤗
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Frost’s Nothing Gold Can Stay is the first poem that really stuck with me growing up ❤ It’s also one of the few I know by heart. I like that you elevate it with your explanation; the idea that the beauty can’t stay and ultimately must end or descend into the ground is what I think makes the beauty worth cherishing while we do have it. Its also what makes us human, to awe in the beauty then mourn it.
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Thanks for reading this post and offering feedback!
I really appreciate your thoughtful reflection 🙏🙏🙏
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Moooolto bella!!!!!
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Grazie infinite,
Buona serata 🙏🙏🙏
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Molto bella questa metafora della vita! Certo i poeti riescono a far diventare bella anche la decadenza della vita !!!
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E’ una fortuna che vi si scorga dentro una qualche bellezza. Forse una maggior consapevolezza (ma non oserei chiamarla saggezza). Mah 💕
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One of my favorite poems. So much packed into those eight brief lines.
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I’m really glad to read your words, Bartholomew. Thank you so much. 🌺
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So stunning poem 🌹👍🙏😍 happy weekend 👏🍵
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Thanks a lot
Happy weekend to you 🌺💐🌺💐🌺
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🌹🙏❤️🌹
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Beautiful one Luisa, thank you for posting one of Robert Frost poems I’m a huge fan of his 😁🙂
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Daphny.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, that always means a lot 💓 I wish you a lovely Sunday 🦋🌸
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Always my pleasure 🤗❣️ Wish you a lovely sunday as well 😊
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🙏😘🙏😘🙏😘🙏
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[…] Nothing Gold Can Stay […]
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Thank you so much🙏💜🙏
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Un componimento molto bello sulla caducità.
Ottima riflessione.
GRAZIE Luisa!
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Grazie di tutto a te! E più di tutto grazie di esserci 😘
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❤
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That’s lovely! And there’s so much truth to it!
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I’m pleased that you enjoyed reading this poem!
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Bella serata
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🌺🌺🌺
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😀
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So beautiful ❤
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Thank you!
I wish you a blessed day!
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I’d never read this poem before, but it’s beautiful. Thank you for introducing me to it!
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I am pleased that you liked this poem too. I thought it was quite beautiful.
Also, I would like to thank you for the kindness of your visit and for taking the time to comment.
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You’re welcome! I enjoy it when you feature these great poets and their work.
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🙏🌹🙏🌹🙏
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Metafora perfetta…e in poesia!
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🙏😘🙏😘🙏
Grazie!!!
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One of my favorite poets.
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🙏💜🙏💜🙏💜🙏
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Well said! This is really beautiful❤
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Thanks a lot 🙏🙏🙏 I really appreciate it.
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