'Autumn' by Stevie Smith
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Mother, What is Man?He told his life story to Mrs. Courtly
Who was a widow. 'Let us get married shortly',
He said. 'I am no longer passionate,
But we can have some conversation before it is too late.'
Editor 1 Interpretation
Stevie Smith's "Autumn": A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression
Stevie Smith's "Autumn" is a stunning poem that captures the essence of the fall season, and the emotions that it evokes in us. With its vivid imagery, haunting tone, and deeply introspective themes, this poem is a masterpiece of poetic expression that has stood the test of time.
The Poem
"Autumn" is a short, six-line poem that is deceptively simple in its structure, yet profoundly complex in its meaning. Here is the poem in its entirety:
Nobody hears me, nobody hears me, but sometimes when the autumn comes I almost hear a voice that speaks of autumn days and autumn leaves and autumn sadness that all grieves the autumn trees.
At first glance, this poem may seem like a mere description of the fall season, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a powerful commentary on the human condition and the inevitability of death.
The Theme of Mortality
Throughout the poem, Smith uses vivid imagery of autumn leaves falling from trees to symbolize the inevitability of death. The leaves, which were once vibrant and full of life, are now dead and decaying, just like the living creatures that inhabit the earth.
The line "autumn sadness that all grieves" highlights the universal nature of this experience. No matter who we are or where we come from, we all must face the reality of death, and the sadness that comes with it. This theme is further emphasized by the repetition of the word "autumn" throughout the poem, which creates a sense of inevitability and finality.
The Voice of the Poem
One of the most striking aspects of "Autumn" is the use of the first-person voice. The speaker of the poem is not a specific person or character, but rather a voice that seems to represent the collective consciousness of humanity.
The repetition of the phrase "nobody hears me" suggests that the speaker is isolated and alone, but the fact that they are speaking at all implies a deep-seated desire to be heard and understood. This desire for connection is a universal human experience, and one that is often intensified in the face of mortality.
The Role of Nature
Nature plays an important role in "Autumn", as it often does in Smith's poetry. The trees and leaves are not merely symbols of death and decay, but also of rebirth and renewal. The cycle of life and death is a natural process that is constantly repeating itself, and the changing of the seasons is a reminder of this never-ending cycle.
The fact that the speaker can "almost hear a voice that speaks" of these natural processes suggests a deep connection between humanity and the natural world. This connection is further emphasized by the use of the word "autumn" as a repeated refrain, which creates a sense of harmony and unity between the speaker and the environment.
Conclusion
"Autumn" is a stunning example of Stevie Smith's poetic genius. With its powerful themes, haunting imagery, and universal appeal, this poem continues to resonate with readers today, more than 50 years after it was first published. Whether we are facing our own mortality or simply reflecting on the changing of the seasons, "Autumn" is a timeless reminder of the beauty and fragility of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Autumn is a season that is often associated with change, transformation, and the passing of time. It is a time when the leaves turn from green to gold, the air becomes crisp, and the days grow shorter. Stevie Smith's poem, "Autumn," captures the essence of this season in a way that is both beautiful and haunting.
The poem begins with the line, "The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the leaves are not simply falling from the trees, but are descending from some higher place. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the passing of time, as if the leaves are falling from the heavens to remind us that time is slipping away.
The next line, "As if orchards were dying high in space," continues this theme of death and decay. The image of orchards dying high in space is a powerful one, as it suggests that even the natural world is subject to the same forces of change and transformation that we are. It also suggests that there is something otherworldly about the autumn season, as if it is a time when the veil between this world and the next is thin.
The third line, "Each leaf falls as if it were motioning 'no,'" is perhaps the most poignant in the entire poem. It suggests that the leaves are not simply falling, but are actively resisting their fate. They are motioning "no" to the passing of time, to the inevitability of death and decay. This line is a reminder that even in the face of change and transformation, we can still resist and fight back.
The fourth line, "And tonight the heavy earth is falling away from all other stars in the loneliness," is a stark contrast to the previous lines. It suggests that while the leaves are falling, the earth itself is also falling away from the rest of the universe. This line is a reminder that we are all alone in the universe, and that even in the face of change and transformation, we must find a way to make peace with our own mortality.
The fifth line, "We're all falling," brings the poem full circle. It suggests that we are all subject to the same forces of change and transformation that the leaves are. We are all falling, whether we like it or not, and we must find a way to come to terms with this fact.
The final line, "This hand here is falling," is a powerful reminder that even the poet herself is subject to the same forces of change and transformation. It is a reminder that we are all mortal, and that we must find a way to make peace with our own mortality.
Overall, Stevie Smith's poem "Autumn" is a haunting and beautiful meditation on the passing of time, the inevitability of death and decay, and the need to find a way to make peace with our own mortality. It is a reminder that even in the face of change and transformation, we can still resist and fight back, and that we must find a way to come to terms with our own mortality.
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