[Poem] AUTUMN SONG (AUDEN) - A gentle reflection on transience and the approach of winter

In “Autumn Song”—sometimes referred to by its famous opening line “Now the leaves are falling fast”—W.H. Auden paints a brief but resonant portrait of seasonal change and human vulnerability. Likely composed in the 1930s (exact date and publication details can vary by edition), the poem’s crisp imagery of dying leaves and fading flowers provides a poignant parallel to the fragility of human life. Auden’s verses hint at the notion that just as nature undergoes cycles of growth and decay, so too do human relationships and endeavors.

Throughout its stanzas, the poem moves between external descriptions of autumnal decline and more inward reflections about companionship, memory, and the solace we might seek in one another. The sometimes sudden transitions in imagery echo the abruptness with which seasons—and personal circumstances—can shift. At the same time, the poem does not succumb to despair. Instead, it offers a gentle acceptance: acknowledging that while loss is inevitable, there remains a quiet beauty and dignity in the passage of time.

Stylistically, “Autumn Song” demonstrates Auden’s early lyricism. Short lines, a measured rhythm, and subtle rhyme help underscore the poem’s meditative quality. Through simple yet evocative language, Auden suggests that the external landscape of falling leaves can mirror our own interior states, urging readers to find humanity and shared compassion in the face of life’s fleetingness. The poem resonates as both a celebration of nature’s cycles and a soft reminder of how quickly cherished moments can slip away.