Poetry

[Dekalb_Blues]

Because I could not stop for Death

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)



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 –

[gossamer -- a very light, sheer, gauze-like fabric; tippet -- scarf-like garment, worn draped over shoulders;  tulle -- a lace-like ornamental netting of silk; cornice -- generally any horizontal ledge-like decorative molding that crowns a building]





 



  ☞ DISCLAIMER: No imaginary apes were harmed in the production of this cartoon.