The poem explores themes of mortality, nature, and the cyclical passage of time. It describes a person's life as a fleeting moment, like leaves falling from trees in autumn. The speaker reflects on how people are born, live, and die, with their lives marked by impermanence. The poem also touches on the idea that death is a natural part of life, and that it brings about renewal and transformation.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1863 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Philosophical