Let down the Bars, o Death!
The poem explores mortality and the speaker's confrontation with death. The speaker addresses death directly, demanding that it release its hold on life. The poem expresses a desire to break free from the constraints of life and experience the freedom of death. It also touches on the idea of the afterlife, suggesting that death may not be an end, but rather a transition to another state of being.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1890 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Lyric · 64 words
First lines
Let down the bars, O Death!
The tired flocks come in Whose bleating ceases to repeat, Whose wandering is done.
Thine is the stillest night, Thine the securest fold; Too near thou art for seeking thee, Too tender to be told.
What this Textopian page supports
Let down the Bars, o Death! 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, Elegy, Lyric, Metaphysical
- Length: 64 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Elegy — The poem reflects on death and the end of life, themes central to elegiac writing.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.
- Metaphysical — The poem explores abstract concepts such as death and the afterlife, aligning with metaphysical themes.
Tags
Poetry · Mortality · Death · Life · Existentialism · Philosophy · Spirituality · Faith · Doubt · Hope · Despair · Nature