Nothing Gold Can Stay (poem)

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"Nothing Gold Can Stay" is a famous poem by American poet laureate Robert Frost. The poem has been greatly popularised by its extensive use in the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and the subsequent movie.

[edit] The 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.

[edit] References in popular culture

The title of the poem was used by the band New Found Glory as the title of their debut full length album, Nothing Gold Can Stay.

A further reference in popular music comes in "The Gold Song" by American punk rock band Bouncing Souls on their album The Gold Record.

The poem was read by the character Ponyboy Curtis in the movie, The Outsiders (1983). The poem is mentioned several times in the book The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton including the most famous line from the book,"Stay gold, Ponyboy." Hinton also helped work on the movie of the same name, which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

The last three lines are quoted in a Simpsons episode which deals with Bart Simpson realizing he is not a child anymore. They are quoted by The Sea Captain as Bart provides a viking funeral for his toys and, by extension, his childhood.

It is also mentioned in other works, including John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany.