The Transition of Autumn

As the title of Goff-Maidoff’s poem suggests, autumn exerts a transitional influence on nature. It brings shorter days, cooler temperatures, and changing colors as leaves fall from trees. It also impacts animal behavior as some species prepare for winter hibernation. For humans, autumn is a time for harvest and abundance, but it also often evokes nostalgia and reflection. The speaker in “The Tug of Autumn” chooses to embrace autumn as an opportunity for quiet introspection. Rather than interpret the changing foliage as a sign of decay, the speaker instead aspires to her full potential. In this way, autumn is a catalyst for the speaker’s maturity.

In the poem, autumn holds dual symbolism: letting things go when necessary while also nurturing what matters. The speaker stands in a silent glade of oak trees, watching the browning leaves “languish from the trees” (4). To...