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.

I love this poem. This poem not only applies to nature as can be seen in the lines, but also to life in general. It describes the ups and downs in life pretty well.

This poem was used very effectively in the movie ‘The Outsiders’, based on a book by S.E. Hinton. If you get a chance, get hold of the song ‘Stay Gold’ and its lyrics, by Stevie Wonder from the soundtrack to this movie. It complements the poem very well.

— Gopal

Minstrels Links

Robert Frost:
Poem #51, The Road Not Taken
Poem #155, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Poem #170, The Need of Being Versed in Country Things
Poem #336, A Patch of Old Snow
Poem #681, The Secret Sits
Poem #730, Mending Wall
Poem #779, Fire and Ice
Poem #917, A Considerable Speck
Poem #985, Once by the Pacific
Poem #994, The Gift Outright