The nineteenth Autumn has come upon me Since I first made…
““The nineteenth Autumn has come upon me Since I first made my count; I saw, before I had well finished, All suddenly mount And scatter wheeling in great broken rings Upon their clamorous wings. I have looked upon those brilliant creatures, And now my heart is sore. All’s changed since I, hearing at twilight, The first time on this shore, The bell-beat of their wings above my head, Trod with a lighter tread. Unwearied still, lover by lover, They paddle in the cold, Companionable streams or climb the air; Their hearts have not grown old; Passion or conquest, wander where they will, Attend upon them still. But now they drift on the still water Mysterious, beautiful; Among what rushes will they build, By what lake’s edge or pool Delight men’s eyes, when I awake some day To find they have flown away?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet mourns loss of youthful wonder as time passes, reflecting on change and fleeting beauty.
In simple terms: Time erodes wonder, but beauty persists.
Key Takeaway
Cherish moments before they fade.
Themes
mortality
beauty
change
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- artistic inspiration
- grieving loss
- appreciating nature
Key Concepts
nostalgia
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- What fleeting beauty do you wish to hold onto?
- How do you find meaning in change?
A Different Perspective
Romanticizing the past can hinder present growth.