AUTUMN: Held in the Hands of Fall

AUTUMN

The leaves fall, fall as from far,
Like distant gardens withered in the heavens;
They fall with slow and lingering descent.

And in the nights the heavy Earth, too, falls
From out the stars into the Solitude.

Thus all doth fall. This hand of mine must fall
And lo! the other one:—it is the law.
But there is One who holds this falling
Infinitely softly in His hands.

— Rainer Maria Rilke

Meaning Section
This poem talks about how everything in life falls or ends—just like leaves in autumn. Rilke says that not only do leaves fall, but the Earth itself seems to fall into silence or loneliness during the night. He even points out that his own hands will fall, showing how personal and universal this idea is. But he ends with a comforting thought: there is something or someone—likely God—who gently holds all of this falling. So, even though everything ends, we are not falling alone.

Literary Interpretation
Rilke uses falling leaves as a symbol for loss, aging, and death. Autumn becomes more than a season—it’s a quiet reminder of life’s natural decline. The tone is calm but heavy, almost like a sigh. By saying “there is One who holds this falling,” Rilke shifts from sadness to trust. The poem mixes fear with peace. It suggests that even though everything fades or breaks down, there is a kind presence that catches us. The simple rhythm and slow pace of the poem match the gentle fall of the leaves, making the whole thing feel soft and thoughtful.