Autumn: Grace Goulson

Autumn

By Joan Mitchell

The rusty leaves crunch and crackle,

Blue haze hangs from the dimmed sky,

The fields are matted with sun-tanned stalks —

Wind rushes by.

The last red berries hang from the thorn-tree,

The last red leaves fall to the ground.

Bleakness, through the trees and bushes,

Comes without sound.

I think this poem speaks to anyone who appreciates nature and the turn of the seasons. It has a universal theme, in that nearly all places experience a change in seasons. To me, the transition from summer to fall is just spectacular. Not only do the leaves change color, but the temperature drops to a comfortable range and a new mood sets in: as Mitchell describes it, a "bleakness" that "comes without sound." She really captures the beauty of autumn in her poem, though it is short. This is what drew me to the poem, because I too appreciate the beauty of fall. The imagery she uses is effective and appropriate and captures the mood well. 

Mitchell, Joan. "Poetry Magazine." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, Feb. 2013.                   Web. 13 Sept. 2014.