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Because I Could Not Stop For Death
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—
last modified on Thu 23 Jun 2005

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