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¶ … Stays the Same

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The theme of how everything changes eventually and how nothing stays the same forever are echoed in Robert Frost's poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay" and Phillis Wheatley's poem, "On Being Brought From Africa to America." While these poems seem to have nothing in common at all, they do explore the notion that nothing is permanent. Frost explores the idea that nature is constantly changing and that which is gold in the spring or fall will surely change with the coming seasons. Similarly, Wheatley explores the idea that situations change over time. She knows that one day, African-Americans will not suffer from slavery. From the simple things in nature to our station in life, we can know with certainty that nothing ever stays the same.

In "On Being Brought From Africa to America," Wheatley examines her premise by first looking at what might have happened to African-Americans long ago. She does not attempt to defend slavery but rather understand it. One benefit that can be derived from the experience is religion. She writes, "Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land (Wheatley 1)," recognizing that without coming to America, the slaves might not have been introduced to the fact that there is a God and a Saviour. She follows this up with the realization that there is such a thing as prejudice in America and some are look upon with a "scornful eye" (4). This is significant in the poem because the poet is deliberately separating herself from those that are of a different race. She is connecting with God without connecting with those that enslaved African-Americans. The poem then turns to all mankind. The poet includes Negros "black as Cain" (5) with the all-encompassing group of Christians. Her point is that no one can be excluded from the love of God, regardless of the color of his or her skin. The poem concludes on this note, reinforcing the notion that things on this earth will not remain the same for those that are persecuted. Things will indeed get better for all in God's time. The poet does not express any anger toward God for what has happened to the African-Americans, she is simply looking forward with hope.

In "Nothing Gold Can Stay," Frost is looking at the changes that nature experiences and realizes that things will always be changing. He begins by noting that "nature's first green is gold' (Frost 1) and that a flower was once a leaf. The implication is that these young buds are the most beautiful when they are very young and the more that they are alive, the more life force is drained from them. This is clear when the poet notes that the "leaf subsides to leaf" (5). He takes this simple analogy and applies it to life itself, noting that the Garden of Eden, as beautiful as it was, could not stay the same. In fact, the happiness and beauty that Adam and Eve had in the garden, "sank to grief" (6). The poet reinforces this idea by stating that even the day eventually changes into night. The poet's ultimate observation is that regardless of how beautiful things may be, we cannot hold on to them forever. We will either lose them or they will die. Either way, our grasp is broken. The poet is not expressing any anger over what he knows to be true, he is simply stating fact and the easiest way to make his point is to compare all the change that we encounter in life to that of a lovely flower.

It is also important to note that both poets bring religion into their poems for a purpose. Without outwardly stating so, these poets imply that God is in control of everything even though things seems like they are out of control because they are in a constant flux. The "angelic train" (Wheatley 5) that Wheatley mentions in her poem comes from the same place that Frost's Eden does. Each poet places significance in a higher power that is involved in his creation - even if it seems like that involvement works from a distance. They acknowledge the fact that there is a God and he is a part of what is going on.