Autumn Song by George MacDonald
"Autumn Song" by George MacDonald is a poem that celebrates the beauty of autumn and its changing colors. The speaker describes how nature's bounty is harvested, and how the leaves turn golden before falling to the ground. The poem ends with a sense of melancholy as winter approaches.
By George MacDonald · First published 1857 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Philosophical · 347 words
First lines
Autumn clouds are flying, flying / O'er the waste of blue; / Summer flowers are dying, dying, / Late so lovely new. / Labouring wains are slowly rolling / Home with winter grain; / Holy bells are slowly tolling / Over buried men.
Goldener light sets noon a sleeping / Like an afternoon; / Colder airs come stealing, creeping / From the misty moon; / And the leaves, of old age dying, / Earthy hues put on; / Out on every lone wind sighing / That their day is gone.
What this Textopian page supports
Autumn Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by George MacDonald, dated 1857 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1857 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Philosophical, Melancholic, Religious
- Length: 347 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Autumn Song by George MacDonald
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
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- An Autumn Song by George Macdonald
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- An Autumn Song by Leigh Gordon Giltner
- Songs Of The Spring Nights by George Macdonald
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Nature — The text extensively describes natural elements and seasonal changes, emphasizing the transition from autumn to winter.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deeper reflections on life, death, and the passage of time, inviting contemplation.
- Melancholic — The tone and imagery evoke a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, focusing on decay and the end of life cycles.
Tags
poetry · nature · seasons · autumn · reflection · melancholy · beauty · transience · life · change · emotion · spirituality