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I thought of many an autumn I had known: Seemly autumns…

“I thought of many an autumn I had known: Seemly autumns approaching deliberately, with amplitude. I thought of wild asters, Michaelmas daisies, mushrooms, leaves idling down the air, two or three at a time, warblers twittering and glittering in every bush ('Confusing fall warblers,' Peterson calls…” quote by Elizabeth Enright
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““I thought of many an autumn I had known: Seemly autumns approaching deliberately, with amplitude. I thought of wild asters, Michaelmas daisies, mushrooms, leaves idling down the air, two or three at a time, warblers twittering and glittering in every bush ('Confusing fall warblers,' Peterson calls them, and how right he is): the lingering yellow jackets feeding on broken apples; crickets; amber-dappled light; great geese barking down from the north; the seesaw noise that blue jays seem to make more often in the fall. Hoarfrost in the morning, cold stars at night. But slow; the whole thing coming slowly. The way it should be.””

Elizabeth Enright

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage paints a vivid, sensory-rich portrait of autumn, emphasizing its slow, deliberate unfolding and the small details that compose the season.

In simple terms: Autumn is described in detailed, sensory terms, highlighting its gradual, deliberate nature.

Key Takeaway

Notice and appreciate the slow, detailed moments of change.

Themes

nature seasonal change sensory detail reflection slow pace

Mood

reflective nostalgic tranquil

Type

descriptive poetic observational

When to use this quote

  • walking in a park
  • reading poetry
  • photography
  • seasonal cooking
  • gardening

Key Concepts

transcendence impermanence mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does focusing on sensory details affect your perception of time?
  • What small details in your environment do you overlook?
A Different Perspective

The description may romanticize autumn, overlooking harsher aspects like cold or loss.

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