“Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) is a classic of American literature. Like the vast majority of her 1,800 poems, it was published posthumously. It appeared as “The Chariot” in Poems: Series 1 (1890).
“The Chariot” (first published version)
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 played,
Their lessons scarcely done;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.
We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.
Since then ’tis centuries; but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses’ heads
Were toward eternity.
Early editors left out the fourth stanza, which (I believe) was reinstated in the 1950s. They also changed the capitalization and punctuation from Dickinson’s handwritten original.
“Because I could not stop for Death” (original version)
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 –
The Manuscript
The original handwritten manuscript of “Because I could not stop for Death” is held by the Houghton Library at Harvard University. You can view it online (and zoom in nice and close) at the Emily Dickinson Archive.
I always enjoy seeing the handwriting of historical figures. Emily Dickinson’s really sprawls, doesn’t it?
Musical Settings
“Because I could not stop for Death” has been set to music at least three times since its publication. You can listen to Aaron Copeland’s, John Adams’, and Natalie Merchant’s interpretations below, if you’d like.
“The Chariot,” Part XII of Twelve Poems by Emily Dickinson by Aaron Copeland (1950)
“Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” second movement of Harmonium by John Adams (1980-1981)
“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Natalie Merchant & Susan McKeown
If you’re interested in reading what 20th century critics have said about this poem (including Allan Tate, who wrote, “If the word great means anything in poetry, this poem is one of the greatest in the English language”), don’t miss this link.