Because I Could Not Stop For Death - Emily Dickinson

“Because I Could Not Stop For Death” by 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—

Basically this is what I get from the poem:

1st Stanza:

     It's a poem about accepting death and not fighting it. Her first line "Because I Could Not Stop For Death" expresses that she wasn't going to stop living her life, when death came she would accept it. Mentioning the carriage that is also seating immortality makes it seem like death is a suitor coming to pick her up.

2nd Stanza:

     The carriage is driving slowly in no hurry to take her. This could suggest it's a disease that is killing her, but it's definitely not a sudden death.

3rd Stanza:

     The narrator is reflecting over the course of her life. Her childhood in the school yard, her maturing years in the "fields of the grazing sun", and finally her death = "the setting sun"

4th Stanza:

     When discussing that she has a chill she describes her gossamer gown. Gossamer gowns were worn for weddings back in the day. A wedding signifies a new beginning. Her new beginning is her life after death. (Also the way Death is spoken of before – as a suitor – again gives the marriage reference/image)

5th Stanza:

     "A house that seemed a swelling of the ground" sounds like a grave. Referring to her grave as her house makes it sound warm and comforting. Again, another reference to her being ok with death and accepting of it.

6th Stanza:

     It's her discussing her new life as being dead. She's ok with it. Centuries have passed on but it still feels "shorter than a day" since she died.

Throughout the poem there are many references to nature: "fields of gazing grain", "setting sun", "the dew", "a swelling of the ground" - it's referring to the fact that death is a natural part of life, and that it's part of life's cycle. The fact that is a part of life's cycle means we shouldn't fear it.