Dead by Emily Dickinson (1890)
The poem explores the theme of mortality and the afterlife. The speaker describes death as a journey to an unknown destination, where one's soul will be freed from the constraints of life. The tone is contemplative and introspective, with a sense of acceptance and even longing for the release that death brings.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1890 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Elegy · 96 words
First lines
There's something quieter than sleep / Within this inner room!
It wears a sprig upon its breast, / And will not tell its name.
Some touch it and some kiss it, / Some chafe its idle hand; / It has a simple gravity / I do not understand!
While simple-hearted neighbors / Chat of the 'early dead,' / We, prone to periphrasis, / Remark that birds have fled!
What this Textopian page supports
Dead is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emily Dickinson, dated 1890 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: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Elegy, Metaphysical
- Length: 96 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
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- Work identity for Dead by Emily Dickinson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- Dying by Emily Dickinson
- A Toad Can Die Of Light by Emily Dickinson
- Not Any Higher Stands The Grave by Emily Dickinson
- Requiem by Emily Dickinson
- Epitaph by Emily Dickinson
- Let Down The Bars O Death by Emily Dickinson
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Elegy — The theme revolves around death and mourning, aligning with the elegiac tradition.
- Metaphysical — The poem explores abstract concepts such as death and the afterlife, common in metaphysical poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Mortality · Death · Existentialism · Philosophy · Nature · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Personification · Irony · Sarcasm