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Wild geese fly south, creaking like anguished hinges…

“Wild geese fly south, creaking like anguished hinges; along the riverbank the candles of the sumacs burn dull red. It's the first week of October. Season of woolen garments taken out of mothballs; of nocturnal mists and dew and slippery front steps, and late-blooming slugs; of snapdragons having…” quote by Margaret Atwood
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““Wild geese fly south, creaking like anguished hinges; along the riverbank the candles of the sumacs burn dull red. It's the first week of October. Season of woolen garments taken out of mothballs; of nocturnal mists and dew and slippery front steps, and late-blooming slugs; of snapdragons having one last fling; of those frilly ornamental pink-and-purple cabbages that never used to exist, but are all over everywhere now.””

Margaret Atwood

About This Quote

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

Autumn imagery evokes decay and fleeting beauty, highlighting impermanence.

In simple terms: Fall shows beauty and decay.

Key Takeaway

Embrace change and cherish moments.

Themes

nature seasonality impermanence beauty memory

Mood

nostalgic contemplative

Type

literary descriptive

When to use this quote

  • writing
  • photography
  • seasonal planning
  • mindfulness

Key Concepts

symbolism poetic description

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does this scene remind you of?
  • How do you find beauty in endings?
A Different Perspective

Focus on decay may cause melancholy.

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