Bequest by Emily Dickinson (1896)
The poem explores the idea of a bequest, which is a gift left behind after one's death. It suggests that the speaker has been given something by someone who has passed away, but it is unclear what this gift is or why it was given. The poem touches on themes of mortality, legacy, and the connection between the living and the dead.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Romantic · 65 words
First lines
You left me, sweet, two legacies, -- / A legacy of love / A Heavenly Father would content, / Had He the offer of;
You left me boundaries of pain / Capacious as the sea, / Between eternity and time, / Your consciousness and me.
What this Textopian page supports
Bequest is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emily Dickinson, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Emily Dickinson
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Romantic, Metaphysical
- Length: 65 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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- Work identity for Bequest by Emily Dickinson
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and feelings, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romantic — Themes of love and personal reflection align with Romantic literary traditions.
- Metaphysical — Explores abstract concepts such as eternity and consciousness, common in metaphysical literature.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Mortality · Legacy · Inheritance · Family Dynamics · Social Class · Elegy · Loss · Grief · Memory