Tuesday, February 7, 2012

"Nothing Gold Can Stay"

Dear Class,
What a book! I think the more we read the more involved we get into the characters and the plot. After the terrible events in chapter four we see Johnny and Ponny Boy taken refuge in an abandoned church. I think one of the most poignant moments of the book is when Ponny Boy reflecting on the past events recite the Robert Frost Poem "Nothing Gold can Stay".
I want to ask you the following: What do you thing is the meaning of this poem? Why do you think Ponny Boy said it? Let me know your thoughts.
Here is a copy of 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."

15 comments:

  1. I think the theme of this poem is about something lost for ever. I think pony boy say this because he realizes his childhood is gone for ever.
    By: Ayendia

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    Replies
    1. You are very right Ayendia, Childhood and innocence are precious treasures that should not be wasted.
      One more thing, please remember to capitalize proper nouns like Ponny Boy.
      Keep reading!

      Delete
  2. I thing that the meaning of this poem is that nothing remains the same for example "her hardest hue to hold "mean that innocence doesn't last.by:Yerimil

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    Replies
    1. Exactly, in the same way that a golden sunrise doesn't last and turn into a day, you won't remain innocent for long with bad influences like in a gang.
      Keep reading!

      Delete
  3. “The meaning of the poem Gold Can Stay” is that nothing last forever. Innocence is easily destroyed. When he said: “Eden sank to grief” we get an idea of Paradise lost. That is how I think Ponny Boy feels that he lost his childhood and his family. He lost his innocence for ever thus the meaning “Nothing Gold can Stay”.




    By Luis from 821

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    Replies
    1. Ponny Boy is a complex character and I think he is very sensitive. He reads, he can quote Frost, enjoys movies etc.
      In a way I find that his conditions are the ones that make his life tragic.

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    2. One more thing Luis, please be more careful when quoting from the poem. The correct verse is "Nothing Gold can stay"

      Delete
  4. Dear: teacher
    Poem:"Nothing Gold Can Stay"
    Author:Robert Frost
    This poem is about change and transformation. In this poem he says that beauty is not permanent. This is true.
    The poem talks about nature,subsides,sank and grief. I considered that this poem has something in common with the characters of the Outsiders because in a way Pony Boy and Johnny are expelled from their paradise.
    By: Domingo F.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Domingo,
      I can see how the ideas from the graphic organizer help you. I share your thoughts. Next, you can elaborate further by quoting more verses from the poem and their meaning and relationship with Ponny and Johnny.

      Delete
    2. Dear Domingo F.

      I want to ask you a question, what else do you can you tell that the poem is about?

      Is it like when you don't have a good childhood that your parents die when you're young and since you don't have any mom or dad the next thing you do is find a way to cover that pain, like getting in to gangs, smoking,and sometimes having fights were you and up killing someone.

      Delete
    3. Dear Rossy

      In certain way you are right Rossy , because not everyone have the same mentality to cope with their problems.Many people do numerous of things to cope with their pain . That is why there are so many psycho in this world .
      Don't you think so Rossy ? Give me your point of view.

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    4. Dear Domingo,
      Yes I do think the same way like you and I'm glad that you answered my question.

      If you have any comment or a question to ask feel free to do it.

      Delete
    5. Domingo do you know someone that have destroyed their paradise like johnny and Pony Boy did?

      Delete
  5. Sorry Kids! One Mea culpa. I did a mistake (yes, I do mistakes) It should have said : What do you think? (No, thing)
    It is a computer thing not a spelling mistake.

    ReplyDelete
  6. # Task 4
    This poem is about change transformation nothing last her hardest hue to hold but only so an hour nothing last forever near early leaf’s a flower so Eden sank to grief this refers to bony box and Johnny and how their innocence was destroyed so down goes down today nothing gold can stay
    Adolfo Jacobo 721

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