Emily Dickinson- "Because I could not stop for Death" – (479) 에밀리 디킨슨

Because I could not stop for Death – (479)​

​

By Emily Dickinson

​

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 –

​

​

​

Commentary:

​

I'm attracted to this poem vehemently. Why must every Dickinson's poems about death just hit the spot? I feel like suffocating in her words and dashes. They're like pristine knives to your depressed heart.

since then till Centuries and yet Feels shorter than day... this verse? wow.... just. a piece of art.

I like to imagine a long country road when reading this poem. preferably at the golden hour, some dew and a mysterious coachmen dressed in black, the rattles of cartwheels and maybe the church bells and children's laugh?

I'm gonna read more Dickinson's poems for certainty.

I have no idea where this poem lands on, but this swings far from my usual read(which are T.S Eliot and Byron so....) and her usage of dashes are really interesting. I don't need to stress about catching rhymes or hidden symbols or stuff because Dickinson doesn't use a lot of common rhymes or symbols. more like an abstract painting. I love her poems.