Summary

The poem begins with the statement that the show of color and sound presented by October has come to an end. Crisp breezes, the cries of migrating geese, and a gorgeous coral moon have all come and gone. According to the speaker, November foliage is the color of pyrite. In the second tercet, the speaker wonders if she was sufficiently awestruck by autumn's beauty. The following stanza outlines the way the bees have finished their work, clustering in their hives to keep warm. At the same time, rodents like field mice and squirrels bulk up on food to build up fat reserves for the colder months when food is scarce.

In the fourth tercet, the speaker focuses on the landscape. The sky resembles hardened plaster, and the river reflects the pasty color and texture. Reed grass as large as feather dusters sprouts on the...