Autumn Song (WMR's fair copy, five stanza version) DGR 1 By permission of the South African National Gallery The Fall of the Leaf Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1848 fair copy 1 small leaf WMR WMR South African National Gallery cream laid paper 8 1/4 x 5 1/4 in. Commentary
Introduction

This early holograph manuscript copy of the sonnet represents the longer, five stanza version of the poem. It is virtually identical to the copy DGR sent to his mother in the letter referred to by WMR in the note to the poem he has written across the top of this manuscript. In fact, this copy, which is in WMR's hand, was almost certainly made from the manuscript letter. The corrections represent WMR's changes to his initial transcription.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

Sent to his mother by Gabriel in a letter sum- mer/48—“written yesterday” WMR's note added at the top of the page The Fall of the Leaf Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf How the heart feels a languid grief Laid on it for a covering, And how sleep seems a goodly thing In Autumn at the fall of the leaf? And how the spirit gripes misfortune At the fall of the leaf in Autumn, As one that makes the ? end more brief, And how the mind with the falling leaf Falls, till its births are mere abortion? Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf How the clogged sense, coiled up & stiff At feel of summer's vanishing perishing, Dares not pass winter to reach Spring In Autumn at the fall of the leaf? And how the swift heat of the brain Hateth because it is in vain In Autumn at the fall of the leaf, Knowest thou not? & how the chief Of joys seems not to have much pain. Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf How the soul feels as a dried sheaf Bound up at length for harvesting, And how death seems a comely thing In autumn at the fall of the leaf?