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

I remember that Frank Sinatra once sang about the September of our years and, goodness knows, September comes to us soon enough for, as Longfellow reminds us, "It is not always May." But May is one of the most pleasant months where I live and so, while it it remains, let's enjoy it!

It Is Not Always May

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

No hay pajaros en los nidos de antano.

                Spanish Proverb 

The sun is bright,--the air is clear,
  The darting swallows soar and sing.
And from the stately elms I hear
  The bluebird 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 oh, 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! 
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Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,May 18, 2025 at 5:57 AM

    A beautiful poem and oh so true! Thanks for digging up this one and sharing it with us, Dorothy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersMay 18, 2025 at 9:59 AM

      Google "dug it up" for me when I ask for poems about May. What would we ever do without Google!

      Delete
  2. jabblogMay 18, 2025 at 6:25 AM

    We do not appreciate what we have and sometimes regret its passing, but there is always the future, though maybe not as much future as once there was.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzMay 18, 2025 at 12:11 PM

    Oh, I don't think I have ever read this poem until now, and I feel this huge wave of sadness as I read it. Beautiful reminder! Thank you for sharing it today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersMay 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM

      I don't think I had ever read it before I came across it last week, but it seems especially appropriate just now.

      Delete
  4. AlanaMay 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM

    I'm glad I first read it today, in my 70'. I never would have appreciated it when I was young. Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersMay 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM

      The years do give us a different perspective on things.

      Delete

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