Today, as I rode by,
I saw the brown leaves dropping from their tree
In a still afternoon,
When no wind whirled them whistling to the sky,
But thickly, silently,
They fell, like snowflakes wiping out the noon;
And wandered slowly thence
For thinking of a gallant multitude
Which now all withering lay,
Slain by no wind of age or pestilence,
But in their beauty strewed
Like snowflakes falling on the Flemish clay.
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Analysis
From guest Kory (contact)
The Falling Leaves : I believe this poem shows how futile the war was by describing the soldiers as “leaves dropping from their tree” with “no wind” which is a direct metaphor because she believes that soldier are “dropping”- killed with “no wind” - no reason. I believe this shows that the war is no reason for people to die and that it is a pointless war. However, she does describe the soldiers as “gallant” which shows she admires them for fighting, even they're fighting for no reason. She also describes the soldiers as “snowflakes” which shows two things. Firstly, it shows that the soldiers are pure an innocent, and therefore do not deserve to die. Also, the snowflakes, when hitting the ground (like soldiers on the battlefield) will melt and disappear. I think this is symbolic of the soldiers who went to war, but like snowflakes their lives were short and is soon gone. This re-inforces the fact the poet believes the war is futile. -
Wonderful metaphor Margaret used throughout these lies; how quickly so many young men died in the first world war; Interesting to read the comments below and how others have used this poem in their school classes.
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Beautiful
Beautiful write. Amazing expression -
Many thanks
From guest charlotte and Hannah (contact)
Thank you for youre words of advice it really helped and our presenation went down a storm!! thanksx -
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Charlotte and Hannah
I'm very pleased you both did well - Well Done!
Von
Oldpoetry
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HELP!
From guest Charlotte and Hannah (contact)
Me and a friend are using this poem for a presentation in class, need help!!...any type will do just need explanation on words and what the poem is basically about???... Many Thanks please comment back Charlotte and Hannah year 11 -
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For Charlotte and Hannah - Look at the date this poem was written - 1915 - First World War - The leaves are the soldiers [gallant multitude] being killed in their thousands for what appears to be no reason at all. If there are comments attached to any poem, read them first you may have your questions aswered for you.
Von
Oldpoetry
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We Are Studying This At The Moment
From guest Lucy Alex Jess Kiri Chelsea Holly (contact)
we have todo this poem for an english lesson and we are finding it very interesting ! four for you marget cole you go marget cole -
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Falling Leaves, great poem, request permission to use in new book, Tree poems since the beginning.
From guest Mary Moline (contact)
Thank you. -
A poignant lament for the millions of young people slain by the ugliness of war.
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What's it about?
From guest Bill (contact)
Just one sentence long, with two main verbs (saw and wandered). The first clause is about the autumn leaves falling, thickly like snowflakes. The second clause is about her thoughts: in 1915 (when this was written) thousands of men were being slaughtered in Flanders, and it horrified and angered the poet. Their bodies withered away like dead leaves. Now the snowflakes simile again, but this time it shows the soldiers (individually pure, beautiful and young) melting away into (or thickly laid upon)the Belgian landscape. -
From guest Kate (contact)
Probably a bit late, I know, but try http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:kIvhxjbKoH8J:www.neale-wade.cambs.sch.uk/revision/files/poetry_mackintosh.doc+%27The+Deserter%27+-+Winifred+M.Letts&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=uk. There's some analysis on there. -
help!!!
From guest jimmy (contact)
I'm studying this poem and do not know what to do as i don't understand it!!!!!!!! -
Short Analysis
From guest Mel (contact)
Poignant, reflective tone. A comparison between leaves and soldiers maintained throughout the poem.Comparison between “thick” carpet of leaves and snow (Natural phenomena) and bodies of soldiers on “Flemish Clay” killed in war (an unnatural death caused by man) Very touching. -
From guest shamima begum (contact)
i really liked this poem i thought it was really touching and very interesting.my friends also liked reading it. they thought it was very uhm relaxing. -
Falling Leaves
From guest Eileen Dawson (contact)
I enjoyed this poem, it gave me a quite visual picture.I am not a poet,I do not write poetry,I'm not clever with poetry, though I do enjoy reading ,reciting and listening to it. I am new to the internet and pleased to find this site. -
this is a beautiful poem:D
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speech notes
"The Falling Leaves" carries an I saw it expression, and not from a pictionary sense but perspective. The tree is replanted in the yard of poems :
"And wandered slowly thence
For thinking of a gallant multitude
Which now all withering lay,"
as a simple comparison between autumn foliage and seasonal water changes, the writer's glove was put on to give its roots proper diameter with every step with what was just a catalog thought early on. Suddenly the flow came that made growth of the idea, the imperative vocabulary that branched it out for a real relook :
"Slain by no wind of age or pestilence"
noting failures were not being massed with what was coming down in the plural.
And deeper yet quite apart from just physical similarity for truth, the last line turned to a place of people who may be standing but are dejected as I belive high rates of that occur more and more anymore.. The word then for the area's ground being "clay" strikes one all over as what might have glue traits for that description but also breaks or doesn't keep form in terms of sustainability in the times.
This evokes to recirculate through the first half of the write where the wintry feel can be felt dryly :
" They fell, like snowflakes wiping out the noon"
if effortlessly loss could happen even peak separation.
I think of the window in a 2nd floor apartment where a tall oak transformed my dad's view from Social Security income to a home with nature but it was like wallpaper because when he opened the door there wasn't a yard but a strip. Yet the fragility could be redrawn how the trunk not otherwise sick would display an effect of having limbs cut off from power as having had paper cuts in their poetry per se.
I myself have a thread of health :
my very legs are stiff as jeans out of a washing machine
yesterday seen now
spliced for dress
no smooth muscle felt just water without wear
that isn't ragged by repair
of no breaks
dansk denim
wooden shoes starting
sans sudsy tumble,
lacking oriention to only the on button
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poem
From guest emma and holly (contact)
hello. emma and i are studying this also. we to, think this poem is top notch!! yes it is a very good poem k bye -
Trees
From guest Mary Moline (contact)
Thank you for allowing to pluch another pearl from your tree of poetry. Am searching for only tree poems for a bookm TREE POEMS...From the Beginning by Mary Moline@aol.com. Have you written any tree poems I might add? -
From guest holly (contact)
hey i think its a good poem i am studying it for my GCSE at the moment its a very good poem -
Not quite as moving as Frost's works. But not withouit it on unique appeal.~~Suseann
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Breathe Taking
The picture created in just 12 lines is quite amazing.
A beautiful poem.
Sammy -
A moving tribute to those fallen on Flander`s fields.
Line 2. I saw the brown leaves dropping from THEIR tree. This led me to believe it was not just a tree,but someone significant`s tree. Confused here.
Line 6 Like snowflakes blotting out the noon. I have known snowflakes used to blot out most things, even sorrow, but never a noon, a moment of time.
Falling leaves is an apt title to associate with soldiers slain in battle. -
well, thats lovely to know.......
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I thought this poem reflects alot on how people were
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great !!
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