A Calendar of Sonnets - May by Helen Hunt Jackson

Song Meaning

May arrives as a month of love and union, a time so potent that the narrator ponders how one could even describe its essence to beings who have never known it. The sheer abundance of sensory delights – the pink blossoms, the green fields, the robin's song – makes it hard to pinpoint a single defining characteristic of May's joy. The lyrics suggest a deeper, more profound aspect of May, one tied to memory and the passage of time. The narrator references ancient traditions that held May as sacred, implying its significance extends beyond mere seasonal beauty. This sacredness seems to connect with the idea of looking back, of cherishing what has been. The most striking image is that of aged hearts basking in May's sunshine. These memories, the lyrics propose, are sweeter than any blossom. It's a poignant contrast: the vibrant, blooming present of May serving as a backdrop for the quiet unfolding of past experiences in those nearing the end of life. This poem works by juxtaposing the immediate, overwhelming beauty of May with the subtle, enduring sweetness of memory. The effect is a meditation on how time and experience imbue even the most fleeting moments with lasting significance, making the present a mirror for the past, especially for those reflecting on a life lived.