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In May by Archibald Lampman

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A speaker burdened by grief steps outside on a May day and discovers that nature — the wind, the birds, the flowers, the little stream — completely fills his mind, granting him a rare hour of tranquility.

Poet
Archibald Lampman
Core theme
Hope
The PoemFull text

In May

Archibald Lampman

Grief was my master yesternight; To-morrow I may grieve again; But now along the windy plain The clouds have taken flight. The sowers in the furrows go; The lusty river brimmeth on; The curtains from the hills are gone; The leaves are out; and lo, The silvery distance of the day, The light horizons, and between The glory of the perfect green, The tumult of the May. The bobolinks at noonday sing More softly than the softest flute, And lightlier than the lightest lute Their fairy tambours ring. The roads far off are towered with dust; The cherry-blooms are swept and thinned; In yonder swaying elms the wind Is charging gust on gust. But here there is no stir at all; The ministers of sun and shadow Horde all the perfumes of the meadow Behind a grassy wall. An infant rivulet wind-free Adown the guarded hollow sets, Over whose brink the violets Are nodding peacefully. From pool to pool it prattles by; The flashing swallows dip and pass, Above the tufted marish grass, And here at rest am I. I care not for the old distress, Nor if to-morrow bid me moan; To-day is mine, and I have known An hour of blessedness.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

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§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A speaker burdened by grief steps outside on a May day and discovers that nature — the wind, the birds, the flowers, the little stream — completely fills his mind, granting him a rare hour of tranquility. He realizes the sadness will likely return tomorrow, but for now, in this moment, it doesn’t matter. The poem captures how a single beautiful day can pierce through even the darkest feelings.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Grief was my master yesternight; / To-morrow I may grieve again;

    Editor's note

    The speaker starts off by being completely honest: grief took over him last night and will probably come back. The choice of the word "master" is significant — it suggests that grief had power over him, and the rest of the poem explores how that power gets disrupted, even if just for a moment. By framing yesterday and tomorrow in relation to a single present day, the poem establishes its central argument.

  2. The sowers in the furrows go; / The lusty river brimmeth on;

    Editor's note

    The speaker looks outward and begins to take stock of the bustling world. Sowers are planting, the river is full and flowing, the mist has cleared from the hills, and the leaves are budding. Everything feels vibrant and intentional. The word "lusty" bursts with energy — this isn't a soft, quiet spring; it's a lively one.

  3. The silvery distance of the day, / The light horizons, and between

    Editor's note

    Lampman zooms out to take in the full scene: the hazy silver light of a May afternoon, vast horizons, and the vibrant green of fields at their peak. "The tumult of the May" is an unexpected phrase—tumult typically suggests chaos or conflict, but here it reflects just how intense spring's beauty can be. It's not tranquil; it's a cacophony of sensations.

  4. The bobolinks at noonday sing / More softly than the softest flute,

    Editor's note

    The bobolink is a North American songbird known for its distinctive bubbling, cascading call. Lampman uses musical comparisons—flute, lute, tambour—to create a rich, almost orchestral texture in the birdsong. The repeated phrases "softest" and "lightest" draw the reader in, allowing them to truly appreciate its delicacy.

  5. The roads far off are towered with dust; / The cherry-blooms are swept and thinned;

    Editor's note

    This stanza brings in the elements of wind and distance. In the distance, the roads are dusty, and the cherry blossoms are scattering in the breeze. The wind rushes through the elms in powerful gusts. It serves as a reminder that the day carries energy and a hint of wildness — yet the speaker remains away from it all.

  6. But here there is no stir at all; / The ministers of sun and shadow

    Editor's note

    "But here" is the turning point. The speaker has discovered a sheltered hollow where the wind can't intrude. "Ministers of sun and shadow" offers a beautiful personification—light and shade are envisioned as attendants or priests gently caring for the meadow's fragrances behind a grassy barrier. The hollow feels nearly sacred, isolated from the bustling world.

  7. An infant rivulet wind-free / Adown the guarded hollow sets,

    Editor's note

    A small stream flows through this protected area, with violets swaying gently along its banks. The term "wind-free" highlights the cozy shelter of the hollow. Referring to the stream as an "infant" adds a soft, innocent touch that aligns with the peaceful mood the speaker is embracing. The violets nodding quietly reflect his own tranquility.

  8. From pool to pool it prattles by; / The flashing swallows dip and pass,

    Editor's note

    "Prattles" gives the stream a playful, childlike voice. Swallows dart above the marsh grass. Then, the last line of this stanza — "And here at rest am I" — stands out as the quietest and most straightforward line in the poem. After all the vibrant imagery, the speaker simply situates himself in the scene. He has arrived.

  9. I care not for the old distress, / Nor if to-morrow bid me moan;

    Editor's note

    The closing stanza revisits the emotional tone of the opening, but this time the speaker responds. He doesn't say that the grief has vanished entirely — instead, he expresses that he simply doesn't *care* about it at the moment. "To-day is mine" serves as a subtle assertion of control over this one moment. "An hour of blessedness" represents the poem's emotional high point: it's not about happiness or joy, but blessedness — a gift bestowed, almost like grace.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone shifts from a quiet acknowledgment of pain to genuine amazement and finally settles into a calm, thankful peace. Lampman avoids becoming overly excited or sentimental — his voice maintains a steady presence, even when he describes the "tumult" of May. The underlying grief ensures that the joy feels sincere. By the end, the mood resembles relief: not sheer happiness, but that particular sensation of a burden easing for a little while.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The sheltered hollow
The grassy hollow, sheltered from the wind, represents the healing space that nature provides—a retreat from the noise and chaos of everyday life. It serves as both a physical location and a symbol of inner peace.
The infant rivulet
The small, babbling stream symbolizes innocence and the simple flow of life. Its "prattling" stands in stark contrast to the speaker's more complex inner world, showcasing a kind of effortless, carefree existence.
The bobolinks and swallows
The birds embody pure, aimless beauty—they sing, flutter, and sparkle without a thought for grief or what tomorrow may bring. Their presence draws the speaker from his thoughts and into the vibrant moment around him.
Yesterday and tomorrow
The poem's recurring mentions of the night before and the day ahead present the present moment as delicate and valuable. Grief is tied to those other times; the "now" of May is shaped as a fleeting refuge.
The tumult of May
Spring's vibrant energy — the lush greenery, the refreshing breeze, the cheerful birdsong, the blossoming flowers — acts as a force that can push aside even profound personal grief. May transforms into a healer, not by being gentle, but through its bold and persistent vitality.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
iambic tetrameter
Rhyme
ABBA ABBA ABBA ABBA ABBA ABBA ABBA ABBA ABBA

§07Historical context

Historical context

Archibald Lampman was a Canadian poet active in the late nineteenth century, often celebrated as one of the best nature poets in Canadian literature. He spent most of his adult life working as a civil servant in Ottawa, and the landscapes of Ontario — including its rivers, fields, and striking seasonal changes — deeply influenced his poetry. Lampman was part of the Confederation Poets, a group dedicated to creating a unique Canadian literary voice. Throughout his life, he struggled with poor health and passed away at just 37. His poetry often contrasts the beauty of nature with personal suffering and the monotony of office life. "In May" exemplifies this approach: the natural world acts not just as a backdrop but as a vibrant force that momentarily relieves the speaker from their inner turmoil. The poem appeared in his 1888 collection *Among the Millet and Other Poems*.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

What is the poem 'In May' by Lampman about?

The poem tells the story of a speaker dealing with grief who finds a brief escape in the beauty of a May day. He relaxes in a sheltered hollow, observing birds, a small stream, and the vibrant spring landscape. By the end, he acknowledges that — for just this one hour — his grief feels irrelevant. The poem doesn't claim to offer a solution; instead, it cherishes a fleeting moment of tranquility.

What does 'Grief was my master yesternight' mean?

It suggests that grief completely took over the speaker the night before — he was completely overwhelmed by it. The choice of the word "master" is intentional: it portrays grief as a force that has power over him, making the poem's shift toward nature seem like a form of escape or a brief moment of freedom from that control.

What is the mood or tone of the poem?

It begins with a touch of sadness and sincerity, then transitions into a sense of wonder and sensory joy as the speaker paints a picture of the May landscape, ultimately resting in a state of quiet, grateful peace. The tone remains grounded — Lampman acknowledges the reality of grief while still celebrating the beauty surrounding him, which makes the ending feel genuine rather than contrived.

What does 'an hour of blessedness' mean at the end?

"Blessedness" goes beyond mere happiness; it conveys a deeper and more precise meaning. It implies a sense of something bestowed or granted — akin to grace. The speaker isn't asserting that he's healed or that the grief has vanished; rather, he expresses that this particular hour in nature felt like a gift, a unique moment of complete tranquility. This choice of word elevates the conclusion beyond just simple cheerfulness.

Why does Lampman use so many sound images — flute, lute, tambour?

He's aiming to capture the rich, almost melodic atmosphere of a May afternoon — with birds singing, the wind rustling, and water flowing all at once. By layering musical instruments, he implies that the scene has the depth and beauty of an orchestra. This also encourages readers to slow down and truly engage with the poem, reflecting the focused stillness the speaker himself experiences.

What is the structure and rhyme scheme of the poem?

The poem consists of nine quatrains, each made up of four lines. It follows an ABBA rhyme scheme, where the first and fourth lines rhyme, as do the second and third lines. This "envelope" rhyme scheme gives a feeling of containment and tranquility, perfectly matching the theme of seeking a sheltered space in a hectic world.

Is this poem autobiographical? Was Lampman really suffering from grief?

Lampman faced depression and health issues throughout his life, and his poetry frequently shows a conflict between his inner turmoil and the healing qualities of nature. Although we can't pinpoint a specific event that inspired this poem, the emotional pattern — feeling grief last night and finding relief in nature today — aligns with what we know about his experiences and appears throughout his body of work.

What does the sheltered hollow represent in the poem?

The hollow is a spot where the wind can’t get in, leaving the noise and hustle of the world behind. It serves as a sanctuary — a real place and a symbol of the peace that nature offers. Its "guarded" and "wind-free" qualities create a sense of separation from the chaotic world mentioned in the previous stanzas.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Lampman, Archibald. "In May." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/in-may-archibald-lampman/.

APA

Lampman, A. (n.d.). In may. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/in-may-archibald-lampman/

TeacherAP Lit Q1 scaffold — preview

Row A — Thesis

1 pt

In 'In May,' Archibald Lampman constructs a speaker whose momentary surrender to natural beauty does not erase grief but deliberately suspends it, arguing that the present moment — bounded, transient, and fiercely attended to — is …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
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