After Death by Edith Nesbit (1910)
The poem is a lamentation of a bereaved spouse who has lost their partner. The speaker describes the process of preparing the deceased body for burial, emphasizing the finality of death and the pain of separation. They express gratitude that they are the one left to mourn, rather than their partner having to endure the loss. The poem conveys a sense of anguish, grief, and resignation, as the speaker comes to terms with their new reality without their loved one.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1910 · Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror · 443 words
First lines
IF we must part, this parting is the best: How would you bear to lay Your head on some warm pillow far away -- Your head, so used to lying on my breast?
But now your pillow is cold; Your hands have flowers, and not my hands, to hold; Upon our bed the worn bride-linen lies.
What this Textopian page supports
After Death is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror, Mystery, Psychological
- Length: 443 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for After Death by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering After Death?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Last Thought by Edith Nesbit
- Death by Edith Nesbit
- Spectres by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- In The Court Of The Dragon by Robert W. Chambers
- The Phantom Ball by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Mass For The Dead by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative explores the concept of life after death, a theme often associated with fantasy.
- Supernatural — The story involves elements of the supernatural, including ghosts and the afterlife.
- Horror — The narrative contains elements of horror, such as fear and the unknown.
- Mystery — The plot involves the unraveling of the mystery of what happens after death.
Tags
Fantasy · Afterlife · Death · Ghosts · Supernatural · Mystery · Philosophical · Psychological · Spiritual · Occult · Esoteric · Reincarnation