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—

I shall come back without fanfaronade
Of wailing wind and graveyard panoply; 
But, trembling, slip from cool Eternity—
A mild and most bewildered little shade. 
I shall not make sepulchral midnight raid, 
But softly come where I had longed to be 
In April twilight’s unsung melody, 
And I, not you, shall be the one afraid. 

Strange, that from lovely dreamings of the dead 
I shall come back to you, who hurt me most. 
You may not feel my hand upon your head, 
I’ll be so new and inexpert a ghost. 
Perhaps you will not know that I am near,—
And that will break my ghostly heart, my dear. 

DEATH’S the lover that I’d be taking;

      Wild and fickle and fierce is he.

Small’s his care if my heart be breaking—

   Gay young Death would have none of me.

Hear them clack of my haste to greet him!

   No one other my mouth had kissed.

I had dressed me in silk to meet him—

   False young Death would not hold the tryst.

Slow’s the blood that was quick and stormy,

   Smooth and cold is the bridal bed;

I must wait till he whistles for me—

   Proud young Death would not turn his head.

I must wait till my breast is wilted,

   I must wait till my back is bowed,

I must rock in the corner, jilted,—

   Death went galloping down the road.

Gone’s my heart with a trifling rover.

    Fine he was in the game he played—

Kissed, and promised, and threw me over,

    And rode away with a prettier maid.