Chorus of Reeds
Evermore a sound shall be
In the reeds of Arcady,
Evermore a low lament
Of unrest and discontent,
As the story is retold
Of the nymph so coy and cold,
Who with frightened feet outran
The pursuing steps of Pan.
The Annotated Edition
Chorus of Reeds by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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This short poem reimagines the Greek myth of Syrinx, a nymph who escaped from the god Pan and was turned into reeds, which Pan then crafted into his well-known pipes.
- Core theme
- Freedom
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
This short poem reimagines the Greek myth of Syrinx, a nymph who escaped from the god Pan and was turned into reeds, which Pan then crafted into his well-known pipes. Longfellow suggests that the sound produced by those reeds — that soft, haunting music — represents the nymph's eternal sigh of yearning and restlessness. It's a poem about how a tale of fear and escape becomes forever trapped within something beautiful.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
Evermore a sound shall be / In the reeds of Arcady,
Editor's note
Longfellow begins with a statement that seems like a natural law: there will *always* be a sound coming from the reeds of Arcady, the mythical pastoral realm of ancient Greece. The word "evermore" introduces the poem's main theme — this sound is constant and not just a coincidence. It's an inherent part of the landscape.
Evermore a low lament / Of unrest and discontent,
Editor's note
The sound is described as a "low lament" — soft, sorrowful, and always in a state of unease. "Unrest and discontent" capture the deep emotions that we might simply interpret as wind rustling through grass. Longfellow conveys that the reeds aren't tranquil; they hold onto a lingering sadness that remains unresolved.
As the story is retold / Of the nymph so coy and cold,
Editor's note
Here the poem shifts to myth. The lament exists *because* it has a story behind it — the tale of Syrinx, the nymph portrayed as "coy and cold," indicating she was distant and uninterested in Pan's advances. Longfellow doesn't mention her by name, trusting readers to catch the reference. The phrase "as the story is retold" highlights that myth is something alive and constantly recurring.
Who with frightened feet outran / The pursuing steps of Pan.
Editor's note
The poem concludes with the chase: Syrinx fleeing in fear from Pan, the god of the wild. The term "frightened feet" creates a vivid and empathetic image — we sense her terror, not Pan's longing. The myth wraps up (as Longfellow suggests) with her transformation into reeds by the riverbank, where Pan cuts the reeds to craft his pipes. The sound of those pipes echoes the lament that opened the poem, bringing the narrative full circle.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
The tone feels mournful and quiet—like someone sharing a sorrowful tale in a whisper. There's an air of inevitability: the word "evermore" shows up twice in just eight lines, lending the poem a fatalistic, almost ritualistic quality. Longfellow maintains a distance, acting as a narrator rather than a participant in the grief. Yet, it's clear that the sympathy is directed toward Syrinx rather than Pan.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- The reeds
- The reeds of Arcady are the most potent image in the poem. They symbolize transformation — a living being becoming a plant — and illustrate how trauma or sorrow can be captured in something that endures beyond the original event. Each time the wind rustles through them, the grief resurfaces.
- The sound / lament
- The soft, sorrowful sound is Syrinx's voice, captured in the reeds. It represents a grief that remains unspoken, and it reflects how tales of suffering resonate through time, lingering even after those who lived them are no longer here.
- Pan's pursuit
- Pan embodies unrestrained desire and the overwhelming force of nature asserting itself on those who resist. His relentless pursuit ignites the tragedy, and the poem presents the entire narrative from the viewpoint of the hunted, rather than the hunter.
- Arcady
- Arcadia (Arcady) represents the classic image of a perfect pastoral world—innocent, natural, and beautiful. By setting this tale of fear and escape in such a place, Longfellow subtly challenges the notion of an idyllic pastoral life: even paradise has its darker moments.
§06Form & structure
Form & structure
- Meter
- trochaic tetrameter
- Rhyme
- AABBCCDD
§07Historical context
Historical context
Longfellow wrote during the American Romantic period, a time when classical mythology was a cherished source for poetry. The myth of Syrinx originates from Ovid's *Metamorphoses* (Book 1): the nymph Syrinx, escaping from Pan, reached the river Ladon and prayed for transformation. The river nymphs turned her into hollow reeds, and when Pan seized what he thought was her, all he heard was the wind rustling through them. He cut the reeds and tied them together to create the panpipes, known as *syrinx* in Greek. Longfellow's poem reflects on that myth in a lyrical way rather than simply retelling it — he delves into the emotional aftermath, focusing on the enduring sorrow instead of the story's progression. The poem's concise nature suggests it might have been crafted as a special piece or for an album, a style Longfellow often embraced throughout his career.
§08FAQ
Questions readers ask
What myth is this poem based on?
It's inspired by the myth of Syrinx found in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Syrinx was a nymph who escaped the god Pan. When she arrived at the river Ladon, she was turned into hollow reeds. Pan then cut these reeds to create his well-known pipes, which is why panpipes are referred to as a syrinx in Greek.
Why does Longfellow call the sound a "lament"?
Because in the myth, the reeds are made from a nymph who was scared and unwilling. The music Pan plays on his pipes represents Syrinx's voice — capturing her sorrow and unrest in the instrument. Longfellow portrays the sound of the wind through the reeds as that grief echoing endlessly.
What does "Arcady" mean?
Arcady is a lyrical name referring to Arcadia, a mountainous area in ancient Greece that came to symbolize an ideal pastoral world—one that is peaceful, natural, and innocent. Poets often used it as a quick reference to a paradise-like place. Longfellow weaves this dark myth into that paradise, which deepens the poem's sense of melancholy.
Why is the nymph described as "coy and cold"?
"Coy" in this context refers to being shy or hesitant, while "cold" indicates a lack of emotional responsiveness to Pan's advances. Longfellow portrays Syrinx's character as depicted in the myth — she had no desire to engage with Pan. The portrayal is sympathetic: she wasn't unkind, just uninterested, and she suffered greatly because of it.
What is the poem's structure and form?
The poem consists of eight lines written in rhyming couplets and follows a trochaic tetrameter. This creates a lively, song-like rhythm that Longfellow often employs in his shorter works. The steady, melodic beat suits the poem's themes of music and reeds. Its rhyme scheme is AABBCCDD.
What does "evermore" mean and why does Longfellow repeat it?
"Evermore" signifies eternity, always, without end. Longfellow emphasizes it twice in the first four lines to stress that this lament isn't fleeting — it's a lasting aspect of the world. This repetition imbues the poem with a rhythmic, almost magical quality, suggesting that the myth itself is something that continuously recurs.
Is this poem sympathetic to Pan or to Syrinx?
To Syrinx, the situation is evident. Pan appears merely as a pursuer, his "steps" in pursuit of her; she expresses the emotional tone — "frightened feet," "coy and cold." The sorrow conveyed in the poem is hers alone, not his. Longfellow presents the entire myth through the eyes of the one who was transformed without her consent.
What is the main message or takeaway of the poem?
That sorrow can find its way into beautiful things. The reeds create music, yet that music carries a lament — beauty and grief are intertwined. Longfellow is suggesting that myths persist because they hold genuine emotional truths: the tale of Syrinx continues to be shared because fear, flight, and loss are experiences that resonate with everyone.
Citation
Cite this poem
MLA
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. "Chorus of Reeds." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/chorus-of-reeds-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/.
APA
Longfellow, H. W. (n.d.). Chorus of reeds. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/chorus-of-reeds-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/
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