The poem takes place "amidst a cathedral of browning oaks" as the speaker communes with her surroundings and resolves to promote well-being (1). The title indicates the season of autumn, which symbolizes transition, release, and introspection. Although falling leaves may evoke decline and ephemerality, the speaker in "The Tug of Autumn" instead seems to ripen into a more fully realized version of herself in this setting. The stillness, the trees, and the rain provide a sanctuary for the speaker to develop her understanding of the world.