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Because I Could Not Stop For Death Poem

By Emily Dickinson

“Because I could not stop for Death” is a lyrical poem by Emily Dickinson first published posthumously in Poems: Series 1 in 1890. Dickinson’s work was never authorized to be published so it is unknown whether Because I could not stop for Death was completed or “abandoned”.

Because I Could Not Stop For Death Poem Lyrics

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 –

Poem TitleBecause I Could Not Stop For Death
Poem Writer / AuthorEmily Dickinson
PublisherChelsea House Publishers
Because I Could Not Stop For Death Lyrics PrintableLYRICS PDF (for printing) LYRICS WORD DOC