Where was Johnny`s last message to Ponyboy? How did Johnny understand the poem Ponyboy had told him? What did Johnny want Ponyboy to do?

"... you're gold when you're a kid, like green. When you're a kid everything's new, dawn. It's just when you get used to everything that it's day. Like the way you dig sunsets, Pony. That's gold. Keep that way, it's a good way to be."

Pony interprets this as Johnny telling him to remain as he is and not turn into somebody he regrets. Pony sees that he needs to stay with his positives. Pony thinks he needs to stay in school, stay creative, stay sensitive so he can "stay gold".