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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE CHARIOT by EMILY DICKINSON

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, / HE KINDLY STOPPED FOR ME
Last Line: WERE TOWARD ETERNITY--
Subject(s): DEATH; FUTURE LIFE; HOLIDAYS; IMMORTALITY; MORTALITY; MOURNING; NEW YEAR; RELIGION; DEAD, THE; RETRIBUTION; ETERNITY; AFTER LIFE; BEREAVEMENT; THEOLOGY;

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--



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