The Courtship of Miles Standish

by Henry Longfellow

The Courtship of Miles Standish is a narrative poem written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, first published in 1858. The poem tells the story of the romantic triangle between Miles Standish, a military leader in the early American colonies, John Alden, his friend and fellow colonist, and Priscilla Mullins, a young woman whom both men are interested in courting. The poem is set against the backdrop of the early days of the Plymouth Colony and explores themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal. Longfellow's writing style is celebrated for its use of meter, rhyme, and vivid imagery, and for its role in popularizing American history and culture. "The Courtship of Miles Standish" has had a lasting impact on American literature and culture, and remains a beloved classic to this day.