Poet's Corner

"Because I could not stop for Death"

Emily Dickinson

Poem explanation

1    Because I could not stop for Death — 



     He kindly stopped for me — 



     The Carriage held but just Ourselves — 



     And Immortality.





5    We slowly drove — He knew no haste — 



     And I had put away



     My labor — and my leisure too,



     For His Civility.





     We passed the School where Children strove 



10   At Recess — in the Ring — 



     We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain — 



     We passed the Setting Sun — 





     Or rather — He passed Us-



     The Dews drew quivering and chill — 



15   For only Gossamer, my Gown — 



     My Tippet — only Tulle — 





     We paused before a House that seemed 



     A Swelling of the Ground — 



     The roof was scarcely visible — 



20   The Cornice — in the Ground





     Since then — 'tis Centuries — and yet



     Feels shorter than the Day



     I first surmised the Horses' Heads 



     Were toward Eternity — 

Source: Exploring Poetry CD-ROM, Gale, 1997.