Song-Day in Autumn by D.H. Lawrence
The poem explores themes of innocence, beauty, and the passage of time through the lens of autumn. It begins with vivid imagery of autumn roses and dew, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing. The speaker reflects on a past moment of joy and purity, where a companion walks among daffodils, symbolizing innocence and carefree youth. As the scene shifts, the mood becomes more contemplative and somber, with the companion now appearing thoughtful and hesitant, suggesting a loss of that innocence. The imagery of the bee and the flower introduces themes of desire and vulnerability, as the companion waits for a connection that feels both intimate and fraught with uncertainty. The poem captures the tension between the beauty of nature and the underlying melancholy of change, as autumn signifies both the end of a season and the inevitability of transformation. The speaker's yearning for the past and the complexities of emotional connection are central to the work, highlighting the interplay between joy and sorrow in human experience. Overall, the poem encapsulates a moment of reflection on love, nature, and the bittersweet nature of memory.
By D.H. Lawrence · First published 1911 · Genre: Poetry · 274 words
First lines
When the autumn roses Are heavy with dew, Before the mist discloses The leaf's brown hue, You would, among the laughing hills Of yesterday Walk innocent in the daffodils, Coiffing up your auburn hair In a puritan fillet, a chaste white snare To catch and keep me with you there So far away.
When from the autumn roses Trickles the dew, When the blue mist uncloses And the sun looks through, You from those startled hills Come away, Out of the withering daffodils; Thoughtful, and half afraid, Plaiting a heavy, auburn braid And coiling it round the wise brows of a maid Who was scared in her play.
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Song-Day in Autumn is listed on Textopian as a poem by D.H. Lawrence, dated 1911 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: D.H. Lawrence
- Date: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry
- Length: 274 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Similar titles
- An Autumn Song by George Macdonald
- Autumn Song by George Macdonald
- Songs Of The Autumn Days by George Macdonald
- An Autumn Song by Leigh Gordon Giltner
- Crocus Song by Frederic Manning
- Rain Cuts The Place We Tread by Dylan Thomas
Genres
- Poetry — The title 'SONG-DAY IN AUTUMN' is indicative of a poetic style that draws on imagery and rhythm to provoke emotion and thought. D.H. Lawrence is known for his works of poetry.
Tags
autumn · nature · poetry · emotion · reflection · beauty · transience · change · melancholy · seasonal · life · death