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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


AUTUMN by RAINER MARIA RILKE

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: THE LEAVES ARE FALLING, FALLING AS THOUGH STREWED
Last Line: IN HIS GREAT HANDS, TENDER INEFFABLY.

The leaves are falling, falling as though strewed
from heaven's gardens that are withering;
negation gestured in their downward flight.

The heavy earth falls also, through the night,
alone of all the stars, toward solitude.

Thus we are falling: This hands falls. And see:
how the same frailty is betrayed by all.

Yet there is One who holds all things that fall
in His great hands, tender ineffably.



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