As a domain expert in literature and poetry, I'm delighted to delve into the depths of Robert Frost's poetry, specifically the line "Her early leaf's a flower but only so an hour?" from his poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay." Frost, an American poet, is known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech, and this poem is no exception.
The line in question is a metaphor that speaks to the transient nature of life and beauty. To understand its full meaning, it is crucial to look at the poem as a whole. Here is the poem for context:

```
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
```

The poem is a reflection on the ephemeral nature of innocence and purity. The first stanza establishes the theme that the initial, most precious moments in life are often the most fleeting. The phrase "Nature's first green is gold" suggests that the first signs of life in spring are as precious as gold. This is a metaphor for the value we place on the newness and innocence of life.

Now, let's focus on the line "Her early leaf's a flower but only so an hour." Here, Frost uses the metaphor of a leaf being a flower to illustrate the brief period of beauty and innocence that a leaf, or anything in life, can hold. A flower, in this context, represents the pinnacle of beauty and the moment of perfection. However, Frost tells us that this moment is incredibly short-lived, lasting "only so an hour." This is a poignant observation on how quickly the things we cherish can change or fade away.

The poem continues with the inevitable progression of life, where the leaf, once a flower, "subsides to leaf." This is a metaphor for the loss of innocence and the transition from youth to maturity. The poem then draws parallels to the fall of Eden, suggesting that just as paradise was lost, so too is the golden time of youth and innocence.

The final lines, "So dawn goes down to day, Nothing gold can stay," reinforce the idea that all things must change and that the golden moments in life are temporary. The dawn, like the early leaf, is a symbol of the beginning and purity, but it must give way to the day, just as the early leaf must give way to the mature leaf.

In summary, the line "Her early leaf's a flower but only so an hour" is a profound commentary on the fleeting nature of beauty and innocence. It serves as a reminder to cherish the moments of purity and perfection in life, for they are all too brief.

Now, let's proceed to the translation into Chinese.

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"Her hardest hue to hold," the next line, means that keeping the innocence of the first green is the hardest thing to do. He continues with --Her early leaf's a flower / but only so an hour.-- This is the second time he has made a metaphor, saying that a leaf is a flower (and green is gold).Apr 23, 2014read more >>