When Ponyboy and Johnny are hiding out together, Ponyboy recites a Robert Frost poem to Johnny, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” The poem itself is a moving description of how ephemeral youth, and essentially life, is. It is fleeting, as expressed in the poem:

“Nature’s first green is gold…nothing gold can stay.”

Green, or newness and youth, age and ripen, evolving into a mature stage that is less “golden” and less innocent and curious.

When they are on the run after their fight with the Socs, Johnny and Ponyboy have a strong appreciation for the beauty of nature around them. Watching a sunrise one day, Johnny tells Ponyboy, "that sure was pretty." Ponyboy responds, “Too bad it couldn't stay like that all the time."

Ponyboy is wistful and says that he wishes he had some paint so that he could paint the sunrise while the sight of it and its beauty was still fresh in my mind. The sunrise represents the youth of the new day and it disappears quickly, just as Ponyboy and Johnny’s youth will disappear. Johnny tells Ponyboy that the mist was pretty, as it was "all gold and silver."

Their discussion about the beauty of nature and rapid disappearance of aspects of it prompts Ponyboy to recite the poem to Johnny. This poem takes on special meaning for the two as their bond strengthens. Later, when Johnny is dying, he tells Ponyboy “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold," just before he dies.