Because I Could Not Stop for Death

Because I could not stop for Death-
He kindly stopped for me-
The Carriage held but just Ourselves-
And Immorality.

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 Reccess-in the Ring-
We passed the Field 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' Head
Were toward Eternity.

- Emily Dickison