Because I Couldn’t Stop

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 quivеring and chill---
For only Gossamer, my Gown---
My Tippet---only Tulle---

Wе 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---