The paradox in Robert Frost’s poem ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ lies in the idea that the most beautiful and precious things in life are often the most fleeting. The poem suggests that the ‘golden’ moments of life, such as the first bloom of spring or the innocence of youth, are incredibly valuable precisely because they do not last forever.
On one hand, the poem celebrates the beauty of these moments, describing them as ‘gold.’ On the other hand, it laments their impermanence, stating that they ‘cannot stay.’ This creates a paradox: the very thing that makes these moments so special—their fleeting nature—is also what makes them so heartbreaking. The poem captures the bittersweet reality that we must cherish these golden moments while they last, even though we know they will soon be gone.