A speaker watches leaves drop from a tree and uses the sight to take stock of their own life. Each falling leaf marks an ending, whether the season was good or bad, and that sets off a run of worried questions: Have I done enough? Should I have done more, or less? Did any of it change the future?
The mood starts out restless and a little anxious, with the cold air and the short, broken lines adding to the unease. Near the end, the poem settles. The speaker pictures the tree as a whole life: their thoughts and actions were the water, friends and family the sunshine, and memories the roots. Looking back from the window, with only a few leaves left at the top, the speaker finds some peace. The closing line, "I helped other people grow," suggests that this is what makes the life feel worthwhile. The poem moves from doubt to quiet, modest acceptance.