Maya Angelou

Late October

Late October - meaning Summary

Cycles of Ending and Renewal

The poem reflects on autumn as a quiet, sensory symbol of endings that are also necessary preparation for renewal. Imagery of falling leaves and muted skies conveys slow decline, but the speaker frames this decline as a deliberate pause that lovers recognize: an endpoint that signals the possibility of beginning again. The tone is contemplative, suggesting acceptance of cyclical change rather than panic or despair.

Read Complete Analyses

Carefully the leaves of autumn sprinkle down the tinny sound of little dyings and skies sated of ruddy sunsets of roseate dawns roil ceaselessly in cobweb greys and turn to black for comfort. Only lovers see the fall a signal end to endings a gruffish gesture alerting those who will not be alarmed that we begin to stop in order simply to begin again.

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