Emily Dickinson:

Because I could not stop for Death

(Handwritten manuscript, Dickinson's own collection)

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 passed 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 -

Emily Dickinson:

Because I could not stop for Death

(Version published after Dickinson's death)

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.

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We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.

Since then 't is centuries; and yet
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.