Autumn is the perfect season to pause, admire nature, and reflect on life. And, of course, it’s a time to read poetry — especially by Russian poets.
Even if autumn may seem grey and gloomy, in poetry it reveals its own unique charm. These verses capture the beauty of fading nature and a quiet, gentle sadness.
Alexander Pushkin once said that autumn was his favorite time of year. He wrote many poems about this season. But he wasn’t the only one who praised it in verse.
Poetry is incredibly valuable for a child’s development. It improves speech, memory, and emotional expression. And reading autumn-themed poems can help children see this rainy season in a more positive light. That’s why it’s so important to read Russian poetry with your child.
Here is a collection of autumn poems for children of various ages.
Ages 5–8
Samuil Marshak
“In October”
In October, in the rain,
Drizzles fall on windowpanes.
On the fields, the grass is dead,
The cricket song is gone.
Wood is stacked and neatly set —
To keep the stoves warm on.
A. Pleshcheev
“In Autumn”
Autumn’s here, the flowers fade,
Empty bushes stand dismayed.
On the meadows, grass turns pale —
Only winter wheat is hale.
Clouds have covered up the sky,
No more sunlight from on high.
Wind is wailing through the field,
Drizzles fall and skies are sealed.
Waters rush in lively streams,
Birds fly off to warmer dreams.
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Ages 8–11
Konstantin Balmont
“Autumn”
Cranberries are turning red,
Colder days are here instead.
Birds cry out across the sky —
And the heart lets out a sigh.
Flocks of birds fly far away,
Past the sea and into grey.
Trees are dressed in color bright,
Falling leaves in golden light.
Sun now rarely shows its smile,
Flowers lose their fragrant style.
Soon, when Autumn starts to wake,
She’ll shed tears at her own ache.
Sergei Yesenin
“The fields are bare, the groves are thin”
The fields are bare, the groves are thinned,
From water rises fog and dampness.
Behind the blue hills, like a wheel,
The quiet sun rolls down in sadness.
The road, all ploughed up, lies and dreams —
It seemed to feel, with sudden wonder,
That winter, hoary wintertime,
Is coming — soon it will be under.
And yesterday, in forest deep,
I saw, through mist, a moonlight token:
A ginger foal — the crescent moon —
Was harnessed to our sleigh, unbroken.
Ages 12–15
Ivan Bunin
“Leaf Fall (Listopad)”
The forest stands, a painted tower —
Gold, lilac, crimson in its power,
A cheerful, bright and motley wall
Above the meadow’s quiet sprawl.
The birch trees, golden-filigreed,
Shine in the blue sky’s crystal bead.
Dark firs rise like towers tall,
Between the maples glimpses fall —
Like tiny windows in the trees,
Where sky peeks through the autumn breeze.
The scent of pine and oak remains,
The forest dried in summer rains.
And Autumn, like a quiet bride,
Steps softly in her painted pride.
Fyodor Tyutchev
“There Is a Grace in Early Autumn”
There is a grace in the early autumn,
A fleeting but a wondrous hour —
The air is still, the sun shines clearly,
And evening radiates with power.
The birds have hushed, the sky is hollow,
The fields lie calm and gently bare—
But winter's gales are far from present,
While warmth still lingers in the air.
Alexander Pushkin
“October Has Arrived...”
October’s here — the groves now shed
The final leaves from branches dead.
The chilly breath of fall is near,
The roads grow firm with icy smear.
The millstream murmurs, rushing by,
While ponds begin to freeze nearby.
My neighbor’s off to hunt once more
Across the fields he’s riding for.
How to Read Autumn Poetry Together
On cold autumn evenings, gather the whole family and read poetry together. It can become a heartwarming seasonal tradition.
Start a special "autumn notebook" where you write down favorite lines. You can even draw illustrations and share them with each other.
Hold poetry nights at home — not only reading well-known Russian poems but also writing your own autumn-themed verses as a family. Compete to see who writes the best one!
Remember that poetry is incredibly beneficial for a child’s development. It helps build rhythm, memory, and speech. For children learning Russian, it’s also a great way to improve vocabulary and pronunciation.
Don’t overlook poetry in your child’s learning. The more effort they put into reading and reciting, the more growth you'll see.
And in the end, reading autumn poems together is simply cozy, joyful, and fun.
