Because I could not stop for Death (479)

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 –