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.
This poem is one stanza that is an octave. This poem is end stopped and is one thought that flows through the whole poem. This poem is packed full of paradox like “Nature's first green is gold” and “Her early leaf's a flower”. This poem can be looked at as a spring poem. But I think this poem is about mortality of man. When we were first created we were free of sin (with hearts of gold) in the green garden of Eden. Not sinning is very heard no matter how hard we try every one sins at one point. Adam had the weight of the world on his shoulders to not sin ever that is a very hard hue to hold. “Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour.” He was free of sin but could only last for so long like the flower bloom of an apple. Then he went to the nature of man turning his bloom of not sinning in to leaf. Adam ate the apple and doomed humanity to grief. The dawn of man sank and we were cast away from the Lords good graces in Eden. Nothing so pure can stay.
I really enjoy and agree with the analysis you've put into this poem, but I've just never been fond of the sentiment it holds. I consider myself a realist but an optimist as well. The notion that all things good (morality, happiness, etc.) must come to an end provides a shallow view of the world that fails to appreciate the beauty that always has the capability of existing.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I agree that the wordplay employed is very unusual. I especially like the line "So dawn goes down to day." Normally dawn rises into day. Phrasing it in this way, however, completely reverses the usual meaning of growth and beauty into one of despair and falling.
The reversal of the phrase makes the reader pause. I think that's the point. I agree with Conrad re: this poem. I've never liked it either. I think the idea that everything is fleeting takes the pleasure from the moment. Just my opinion! :)
ReplyDeleteFrom Sara Demaree: "I agree with you on the basic structure and meaning of the poem. I enjoyed the way you explain everything with precision and depth. Personally, I find the poem to be a rather sad perspective on what gold is, and its durablitity to stay. Despite being people who are flawed, there are still 'golden' aspects to life and humanity."
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