GATHERING LEAVES Spades take up leaves No better than…
“GATHERING LEAVES Spades take up leaves No better than spoons, And bags full of leaves Are light as balloons. I make a great noise Of rustling all day Like rabbit and deer Running away. But the mountains I raise Elude my embrace, Flowing over my arms And into my face. I may load and unload Again and again Till I fill the whole shed, And what have I then? Next to nothing for weight, And since they grew duller From contact with earth, Next to nothing for color. Next to nothing for use. But a crop is a crop, And who's to say where The harvest shall stop?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Gathering leaves symbolizes futile effort; the more you collect, the less value remains, reflecting on diminishing returns.
In simple terms: Collecting more can become meaningless.
Key Takeaway
Assess when effort no longer yields benefit.
Themes
effort
value
impermanence
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- project management
- resource allocation
- personal habits
Key Concepts
diminishing returns
meaningless labor
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it wise to stop a repetitive task?
- How do you find purpose in seemingly futile work?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes persistence is necessary despite low returns.