Poetry Sunday: It Is Not Always May by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

May has been called the "queen of months" and for good reason. At least in the northern hemisphere, it is likely the most pleasant of months. But as the poet says, we should enjoy it while it lasts for it is not always May.

It Is Not Always May

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

  The sun is bright,the air is clear,         The darting swallows soar and sing,     And from the stately elms I hear         The blue-bird prophesying Spring.

    So blue yon winding river flows,         It seems an outlet from the sky,     Where waiting till the west wind blows,         The freighted clouds at anchor lie.

    All things are new; the buds, the leaves,         That gild the elm-tree's nodding crest,     And even the nest beneath the eaves;        There are no birds in last year's nest!

    All things rejoice in youth and love,         The fulness of their first delight!     And learn from the soft heavens above         The melting tenderness of night.

    Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,         Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;     Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,         For O! it is not always May!

    Enjoy the Spring of Love and Youth,         To some good angel leave the rest;     For Time will teach thee soon the truth,         There are no birds in last year's nest!

Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,May 19, 2024 at 5:21 AM

    Thank you for this, Dorothy. Longfellow is a poet I devoured as a child, but haven’t read him for a very long time. A visit to the library is in order!

    ReplyDelete
  2. TomMay 19, 2024 at 5:46 AM

    ...I hope that you are enjoying your May.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lark@LarkWritesMay 19, 2024 at 7:18 PM

    Lovely poem...almost as lovely as the spring weather we've been having this May.
    How's your ankle doing? Are you still confined to the boot? Hope it's healing well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersMay 19, 2024 at 7:25 PM

      The ankle is healing - not as quickly as I would like, of course. I'm only wearing the boot now if I'm going outside. I take it off when I'm just sitting around the house which is most of the time. The visiting nurse was not too happy about that, but it is just too uncomfortable to wear all the time. And I just don't need anything that makes me MORE uncomfortable.

      Delete
  4. AlanaMay 20, 2024 at 5:10 PM

    The healing will come, but it's easy for me to say. The important thing is that you are home and are able to wear the boot on your own terms. What a poem for a May-lover like me- very nice. Speaking of May, I hope the recent storms haven't made your life miserable.

    ReplyDelete
  5. thecuecardMay 24, 2024 at 5:30 PM

    Glad you are home and back to giving us poetry. Thx for this May poem. May is the month things become so green here .... it's been rainy for about two weeks now .... which could make it nice later.

    ReplyDelete

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