Time XXVII. Because I could not stop for Death (712), by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson

Time XXVII. Because I could not stop for Death (712)

Part Four: Time and Eternity

XXVII

BECAUSE I could not stop for Death—

He kindly stopped for me—

The Carriage held but just Ourselves—

And Immortality.

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

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—

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—

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—

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Analysis

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The Months Have Ends—the Years—a Knot

423 The Months have ends—the Years—a… No Power can untie To stretch a little further A Skein of Misery—

Like Flowers, That Heard the News of Dews

513 Like Flowers, that heard the news… But never deemed the dripping priz… Awaited their—low Brows— Or Bees—that thought the Summer’s…

Is It Too Late to Touch You, Dear?

Is it too late to touch you, Dear… We this moment knew - Love Marine and Love terrene - Love celestial too -

This Consciousness That Is Aware

822 This Consciousness that is aware Of Neighbors and the Sun Will be the one aware of Death And that itself alone

Too Little Way the House Must Lie

911 Too little way the House must lie From every Human Heart That holds in undisputed Lease A white inhabitant—

Heaven Is So Far of the Mind

370 Heaven is so far of the Mind That were the Mind dissolved— The Site—of it—by Architect Could not again be proved—

I read my sentence—steadily

412 I read my sentence—steadily— Reviewed it with my eyes, To see that I made no mistake In its extremest clause—

God Made a Little Gentian

442 God made a little Gentian— It tried—to be a Rose— And failed—and all the Summer lau… But just before the Snows

Afraid! of Whom Am I Afraid?

608 Afraid! Of whom am I afraid? Not Death—for who is He? The Porter of my Father’s Lodge As much abasheth me!

I see thee better—in the Dark—

I see thee better—in the Dark— I do not need a Light— The Love of Thee—a Prism be— Excelling Violet— I see thee better for the Years

The Railway Train

I like to see it lap the miles, And lick the valleys up, And stop to feed itself at tanks; And then, prodigious, step Around a pile of mountains,

He Fumbles at Your Soul

315 He fumbles at your Soul As Players at the Keys Before they drop full Music on— He stuns you by degrees—

That after horror – that ’twas us–

286 That after Horror — that ’twas us… That passed the mouldering Pier — Just as the Granite Crumb let go… Our Savior, by a Hair —

My Worthiness Is All my Doubt

751 My Worthiness is all my Doubt— His Merit—all my fear— Contrasting which, my quality Do lowlier—appear—

Not in This World to See His Face

Not in this world to see his face Sounds long, until I read the pla… Where this is said to be But just the primer to a life Unopened, rare, upon the shelf,

Emily Dickinson

Time XXVII. Because I could not stop for Death (712)

Part Four: Time and Eternity

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