BUTTER.
And so you sail to-day for dear Old England.
I am not one of those who think a sup
Of this New England air is better worth
Than a whole draught of our Old England's ale.
The Annotated Edition
BUTTER. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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A brief and clever poem where the speaker says goodbye to someone heading to England, playfully asserting that a hearty pint of Old England's ale is far better than just a taste of New England air.
- Themes
- freedom, home, identity
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
A brief and clever poem where the speaker says goodbye to someone heading to England, playfully asserting that a hearty pint of Old England's ale is far better than just a taste of New England air. It humorously pokes fun at American pride, turning the usual patriotic sentiment upside down. Longfellow maintains a light and chatty tone, reminiscent of a friendly remark exchanged between pals at the docks.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
And so you sail to-day for dear Old England.
Editor's note
The speaker talks to a friend who is heading off to England. The term "dear" conveys warmth and affection for the old country, creating a tone that feels fond rather than dismissive. It also sets up the transatlantic context that the rest of the poem engages with right from the start.
I am not one of those who think a sup / Of this New England air is better worth
Editor's note
Here, Longfellow sets his speaker apart from the crowd of proud New Englanders who claim their homeland is the best. A "sup" refers to a small sip or taste — a purposely modest, even dismissive measure — which contrasts sharply with the generous "whole draught" mentioned in the next line.
Than a whole draught of our Old England's ale.
Editor's note
The punchline. Old England's ale — rich, full, and satisfying — stands in contrast to the light, airy pride of New England. This comparison is both funny and humble: the speaker confesses he’d prefer a good drink over a breath of patriotic air. The use of "our" is intriguing as well — it indicates that the speaker still feels a connection to England, mixing the old world with the new.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
Warm, dry, and gently humorous. The speaker seems like someone who loves to deflate pretension with a clever remark. There's a sense of fondness beneath the humor — this isn't about cynicism, just a playful way of not taking national pride too seriously.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- New England air
- Represents American patriotism and the pride of the new world—something intangible and possibly overrated, simplified here to just a "sup."
- Old England's ale
- Captures the richness, depth, and satisfying substance of the old world and its traditions. Ale is earthy and authentic, standing in clear contrast to the lofty notions of national pride.
- The voyage / sailing
- The transatlantic crossing sets the stage for the poem's ongoing tension between the old and new worlds, exploring themes of belonging and departure, as well as loyalty and identity.
§06Historical context
Historical context
Longfellow wrote at a time when Americans were still figuring out their cultural identity. Many people in the 19th century felt torn between pride in their new country and strong connections to European — particularly British — culture and literature. Longfellow made several trips to Europe, where he was deeply influenced by its literary traditions. This poem, short and almost like an epigram, reflects that tension. The title "Butter" is intriguing and not explained in the poem itself — it could be a person's name, a nickname, or just a playful label Longfellow used for a casual piece. The poem feels less like a formal literary work and more like a clever note written for a friend who is leaving, which was a popular style of social verse during the 19th century.
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
The poem doesn’t clarify this point, and Longfellow didn’t leave a clear note about it. "Butter" might be a nickname for the person the poem addresses, or it could simply be a playful term Longfellow used for a light, casual verse — similar to calling something "smooth" or easy. This remains one of the poem's little mysteries.
It's genuinely funny. Longfellow is mocking the type of American who claims their country's air is better than anything from the old world. The comparison between ale and air is a deliberate absurdity meant to provoke a laugh.
A friend or acquaintance getting ready to board a ship bound for England. We don’t know their name or much else about them—they're mainly a device for Longfellow to share his wry take on national pride.
A "sup" is an old term for a small sip or mouthful. Longfellow intentionally uses it to convey that New England air feels thin and unsatisfying when compared to a hearty drink of ale.
He's playfully poking fun at American exceptionalism—the belief that everything about the new world is inherently superior to the old. He isn't claiming that America is bad; he simply won't act as if national pride by itself is enough to sustain us.
That word "our" carries a lot of subtle weight. It implies that the speaker — and by extension Longfellow — still senses a shared cultural heritage with England. For many educated Americans of the 19th century, England didn't feel like a foreign land but rather a cultural homeland they had never fully abandoned.
No, not at all. It's just a minor, occasional piece — more like a quick verse a poet scribbles for a friend than a significant literary work. Longfellow is much better known for pieces like *The Song of Hiawatha* and *Paul Revere's Ride*. This one is more of a curiosity.
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