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May by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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In this short poem, May introduces herself to us, arriving like a queen at court.

Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Core theme
Beauty
The PoemFull text

May

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Hark! The sea-faring wild-fowl loud proclaim My coming, and the swarming of the bees. These are my heralds, and behold! my name Is written in blossoms on the hawthorn-trees. I tell the mariner when to sail the seas; I waft o'er all the land from far away The breath and bloom of the Hesperides, My birthplace. I am Maia. I am May.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

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§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

In this short poem, May introduces herself to us, arriving like a queen at court. She highlights the birds, the bees, and the blooming hawthorn trees as her royal heralds, connecting her name to Maia, the Greek goddess of spring. It's a cheerful, self-assured piece that makes spring's arrival feel like an impressive entrance.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Hark! The sea-faring wild-fowl loud proclaim / My coming, and the swarming of the bees.

    Editor's note

    May begins with a call to listen — "Hark!" — immediately showcasing her authority. The migrating seabirds and buzzing bees aren't merely indicators of the season; they are her *heralds*, much like a trumpet fanfare heralds a monarch. Both creatures symbolize movement and return, emphasizing that May is something that arrives from another place.

  2. These are my heralds, and behold! my name / Is written in blossoms on the hawthorn-trees.

    Editor's note

    The hawthorn blooms in May throughout England and New England, making its white flowers the true signature of the month across the landscape. Longfellow's use of the word "behold" maintains the theatrical, proclamatory vibe — May is putting on a show, and she has every reason to do so.

  3. I tell the mariner when to sail the seas; / I waft o'er all the land from far away

    Editor's note

    Here, May claims practical authority over human life. Sailors have historically waited for calmer spring weather before setting out, so May's arrival was a true signal for voyages. The verb "waft" softens the tone a bit—she doesn't storm in; she drifts in, bringing warmth and fragrance on the breeze.

  4. The breath and bloom of the Hesperides, / My birthplace. I am Maia. I am May.

    Editor's note

    The Hesperides are the legendary gardens located at the western edge of the world, cared for by nymphs and renowned for their golden apples — a true paradise overflowing with abundance. By identifying this as her birthplace, May links herself to classical mythology and to the goddess Maia, one of the Pleiades and the mother of Hermes in Greek mythology. The last two brief statements — "I am Maia. I am May." — hit like a seal on a royal letter. The repetition and the near-rhyme provide the ending with a sense of quiet, contented finality.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone radiates triumph and confidence from start to finish. May speaks in the first person with a regal assurance, while Longfellow maintains a bright, ceremonial energy — this is all about celebration, not contemplation. There's an element of lightness, almost playfulness, as if the month relishes her own grand entrance. By the final couplet, the tone shifts to a more serene note, reminiscent of a queen settling into her throne after the procession concludes.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Wild-fowl and bees
These creatures are May's heralds, natural trumpeters welcoming her arrival. Migrating birds and active bees are some of the most dependable signs that spring has truly arrived, which is why Longfellow connects the mythology to what we can see in nature.
Hawthorn blossoms
The hawthorn tree blooms in May throughout the Northern Hemisphere and has a rich history tied to this month in folklore and literature. Its blossoms seem to spell out May's name across the landscape, transforming nature into her unique signature.
The Hesperides
In Greek mythology, the Hesperides are the gardens of the west — a paradise filled with eternal spring and golden fruit. Referring to this as May's birthplace transforms the month from just a point on the calendar into something divine and timeless, linking seasonal renewal to humanity's oldest concepts of paradise.
Maia
Maia is the Greek goddess who lends her name to the month of May — she is one of the seven Pleiades and the mother of Hermes. By identifying May as Maia, Longfellow blurs the line between the natural world and classical myth, implying that each May we experience is a return of something timeless.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
iambic pentameter
Rhyme
ABABBBAB

§07Historical context

Historical context

Longfellow wrote this poem as part of a series called *The Poet's Calendar*, where each month of the year has its own voice and character. He published this collection in the 1880s, towards the end of his life, drawing from a lifetime of engaging with classical literature and European poetry. The idea of personifying months and seasons has been around since ancient Rome, and Longfellow was deliberately tapping into that tradition. By the mid-19th century, he had become the most popular poet in America, and works like this one — brief, lyrical, and rich in classical references — matched what his readers expected and cherished. The mention of Maia and the Hesperides shows his deep knowledge of Greek and Roman mythology, a subject he taught for many years as a professor at Harvard.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

Who is speaking in this poem?

The month of May is speaking — Longfellow gives her a voice and a personality, allowing her to introduce herself like a queen addressing her subjects. This technique is known as personification, and it's what powers the entire poem.

Who is Maia, and what does she have to do with May?

Maia is a character from Greek mythology, one of the seven Pleiades (the daughters of Atlas) and the mother of Hermes. The Romans linked her to growth and spring, and many believe that the month of May is named after her. Longfellow uses this connection to give May a divine, mythological identity.

What are the Hesperides?

The Hesperides are the mythical gardens located at the far western edge of the world in Greek mythology, cared for by nymphs and renowned for their golden apple trees. They symbolize a paradise — a realm of endless abundance and beauty. By referring to the Hesperides as her birthplace, May asserts that she hails from paradise itself.

What does 'Hark' mean, and why does Longfellow start with it?

"Hark" is an old-fashioned word that means listen or pay attention. Using it at the start is a dramatic choice — it quickly captures the reader's attention and prepares them for the proclamation that follows. This choice also aligns well with the poem's tone, which evokes a royal announcement.

What is the poem's rhyme scheme?

The poem consists of one eight-line stanza (an octave) with the rhyme scheme ABABBBAB — specifically, the end words are proclaim / bees / name / trees / seas / away / Hesperides / May. Longfellow groups several rhymes with the "-ees" sound, creating a flowing, musical quality in the stanza.

Why does May say she tells the mariner when to sail?

Historically, sailors in the Northern Hemisphere steered clear of winter voyages due to storms and rough seas. When May arrived, it brought calmer weather and safer conditions for setting sail. This gives May a legitimate claim to authority over sailors, rooted in actual maritime practice rather than mere poetic imagination.

What is *The Poet's Calendar*, and where does this poem fit in it?

Longfellow crafted a series of twelve short poems, each representing a month and embodying its unique voice and character. "May" is the fifth poem in this collection. This project allowed him to delve into classical mythology, seasonal symbolism, and the passage of time simultaneously—ideas that occupied his thoughts in his later years.

Is this poem suitable for students to memorize or recite?

It's a great choice. At eight lines, it's short enough to memorize easily, the rhymes are clear and enjoyable, and the vocabulary — though it has some classical references — is mostly easy to understand. The dramatic first-person voice also makes it a lot of fun to recite aloud.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. "May." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/may-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/.

APA

Longfellow, H. W. (n.d.). May. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/may-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/

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