Emily Dickinson

On May 15, 1886, Emily Dickinson died in Amherst, Mass., where she was born and had lived in seclusion for the previous 24 years. Her verse was very stylized using dashes and other punctuation to make distinct points. It was not until the twentieth century when her poetry was published in its entirety as well as the way it has been originally written. Here is an example:

Because I could not stop for Death (479)
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 –