Autumn Chant

Name: Autumn Chant
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores the transition from summer to autumn, using vivid imagery to depict the changing landscape and the inevitable passage of time. It begins with a sense of shuddering and unease as autumn arrives, symbolized by the rose's root. The imagery of ladders leaning among fruit suggests a harvest season, where nature's bounty is being gathered. As autumn ascends the trellised frame, the rose reflects on its origins, acknowledging the cycle of life and decay. The contrast between the vibrant rose and the wizened, orange berry highlights the theme of beauty's impermanence. The poem suggests that while beauty is transient, it is also a part of a larger cycle, rooted in the earth from which it springs. The repetition of the line about the rose remembering its origins emphasizes the connection between beauty and mortality. The poem ultimately conveys a sense of acceptance regarding the changes brought by autumn, recognizing that all beauty is fleeting and intertwined with the natural world. The tone is reflective, capturing both the beauty and the bittersweet nature of change.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1921 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Romanticism · 144 words

First lines

Now the autumn shudders In the rose's root.

Far and wide the ladders Lean among the fruit.

Now the autumn clambers Up the trellised frame,

And the rose remembers The dust from which it came.

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Autumn Chant is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1921 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1921 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Romanticism, Symbolism, Lyric Poetry
Length: 144 words
Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that employs lyrical language and explores themes of nature and the passage of time.
Nature Writing — The poem vividly describes autumn and its effects on nature, focusing on the imagery of roses and fruit.
Romanticism — The themes of beauty, memory, and the cycle of life reflect Romantic ideals.
Symbolism — The use of symbols like the rose and the berry conveys deeper meanings about life and decay.