Why would Johnny, who normally would not like to read poetry,"get"this poem and feel like he can relate to it?

One morning, Ponyboy wakes up early and goes to sit outside and have a smoke. He watches the sunrise, and soon Johnny joins him, commenting on the beauty of the sunrise and saying it's "too bad it couldn't stay like that all the time." That reminds Ponyboy of the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost, and he recites it for Johnny. I think Johnny understands that nothing good ever lasts. His dysfunctional family situation has taught him that.