Fool's Gold

Fool's gold, or pyrite, symbolizes false expectations regarding something that looks valuable but ultimately is worthless or deceptive. In the poem, any foliage left in the trees come November is "fool's gold" (4). It pales in comparison to October's "full-throttle foliage" (5).

The Coral Moon

The low-floating coral moon symbolizes impermanence and melancholy beauty. This image evokes a soft red, pink, and orange glow that floats between different thresholds: earth and sky, day and night, fullness and emptiness. Moon imagery often suggests introspection, and the speaker recalls the transient beauty of October.

Bees

Bees symbolize hard work, community, and prosperity. They are known for their tireless work ethic, which is made possible by their hierarchical hive structure. In the poem, however, even the bees have stopped working, hunkering down for the winter.

The Closed Sign

The "closed sign" hung by winter's days symbolizes the seasonal need for...