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The Annotated Edition

MAY by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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

Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Themes
beauty, identity, nature
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

§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.

§06Historical 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.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

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.

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