Wild geese fly south, creaking like anguished hinges; along the riverbank the candles of the sumacs burn dull red. It's the first week of October. Season of woolen garments taken out of mothballs; of nocturnal mists and dew and slippery front steps, and late-blooming slugs; of snapdragons having one last fling; of those frilly ornamental pink-and-purple cabbages that never used to exist, but are all over everywhere now.
The passage describes the onset of October, characterized by the migration of wild geese and vivid imagery of nature's changes. The author paints a picture of a landscape where sumac bushes bear dull red hues, signaling the transition into autumn. This time of year evokes nostalgia, as people take out their woolen clothes that have been stored away, indicating the colder months ahead. The scene suggests a mix of beauty and melancholy, marking the shift in seasons.
As October unfolds, the atmosphere is filled with the presence of mist and dew, along with the challenge of slippery steps. The late-blooming flora, like snapdragons, seem to cling to the last moments of warmth. The introduction of ornamental cabbages reflects a changing taste in landscaping. Atwood’s vivid descriptions embody the interplay between nature’s resilience and the inevitable approach of winter, highlighting both the beauty and the ephemerality of the season.
