A Poem for the Ages

"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.