The speaker longs to be changed into autumn—into yellow leaves—and says that being turned that way would be more satisfying than the present state. There is a grief over something that never came into being and died before it could live, an ache for an unlived or unnamed self. The speaker then wishes to be a scarlet flame on a windy autumn morning, bright and brief, having no name and no origin in any breathing image. By the end, the desire is to fall from the margin of the world, where the farthest stars sink down, and to be swallowed by the void, drowned in nothingness. Even the final dream is withered, like an autumn leaf, and the one wish is called vain and brief. The mood is mournful, intimate, and strangely peaceful—a quiet hunger for fading, anonymity, and release.
Turn Me to My Yellow Leaves — Summary
Turn me to my yellow leaves, I am better satisfied; There is something in me grieves-- That was never born, and died. Let me be a scarlet flame On a windy autumn morn, I who never had a name, Nor from breathing image born. From the margin let me fall Where the farthest stars sink down, And the void consumes me,--all In nothingness to drown. Let me dream my dream entire, Withered as an autumn leaf-- Let me have my vain desire, Vain--as it is brief.