Returning by Emily Dickinson (1890)
The poem explores the theme of loss and longing, with the speaker reflecting on a past love that has been lost. The poem's tone is melancholic and introspective, with the speaker grappling with the pain of separation and the difficulty of moving on from a past relationship.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1890 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Psychological · 204 words
First lines
I years had been from home, / And now, before the door, / I dared not open, lest a face / I never saw before
Stare vacant into mine / And ask my business there.
My business, -- just a life I left, / Was such still dwelling there?
I fumbled at my nerve, / I scanned the windows near; / The silence like an ocean rolled, / And broke against my ear.
What this Textopian page supports
Returning 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, Psychological, Gothic, Existential
- Length: 204 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Returning by Emily Dickinson
- 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
Similar titles
- Trying To Forget by Emily Dickinson
- Memorials by Emily Dickinson
- The Oriole by Emily Dickinson
- Waiting by Emily Dickinson
- The Monument by Emily Dickinson
- Morning Is The Place For Dew 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 thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Psychological — The themes explore internal conflict and fear, focusing on the psychological state of the speaker.
- Gothic — The poem evokes a sense of dread and mystery, elements often found in Gothic literature.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature Imagery · Death and Mourning · Spirituality · Solitude · Longing · Nostalgia · Memory · Loss · Grief