Because I could not stop for Death

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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 Tule - my 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 -

Hope is the Thing with Feathers

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet, never, in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me.