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.