Poetry Chamber

Because I could not stop for Death

by Emily Dickinson

Poem Text

1Because I could not stop for Death –
2He kindly stopped for me –
3The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
4And Immortality.
6We slowly drove – He knew no haste
7And I had put away
8My labor and my leisure too,
9For His Civility –
11We passed the School, where Children strove
12At Recess – in the Ring –
13We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
14We passed the Setting Sun –
16Or rather – He passed Us –
17The Dews drew quivering and Chill –
18For only Gossamer, my Gown –
19My Tippet – only Tulle –
21We paused before a House that seemed
22A Swelling of the Ground –
23The Roof was scarcely visible –
24The Cornice – in the Ground –
26Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
27Feels shorter than the Day
28I first surmised the Horses' Heads
29Were toward Eternity –

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