what is the meaning of the poem "Because I could not stop for Death" writion by Emily Dickinson?

Question

Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –

Or rather – He passed us –
The Dews drew quivering and chill –
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity –

Answer 1

, Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me – ( she was not ready/wanting to die)
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too, ( she stopped living, working and
For His Civility – relaxing cuz death came )
We passed the School, where Children strove ( these were built
At Recess – in the Ring – (through the cent-
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – (uries she was
We passed the Setting Sun – buried )

Or rather – He passed us – ( thats y they passed
her)
For only Gossamer, my Gown ( this is what she was burried in)
My Tippet – only Tulle – ( a scarf that is net like covers face)
We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground – ( this is her grave )
Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity – ( im assuming shes in heaven- since eternity seems short, its been centuries since ive died but it doesnt even seem like its been a day)

Answer 2

It is a reflection of the passing of time and one's life while living. No one knows when it is our time to die, and we live everyday as if this one isn't it. We don't stop and say, "ok, I am ready now. come get me and take me to what lies beyond" and she is saying that since we as humans tend to live on the hope for tomorrow, we don't want to think about the end of our life or when it will be. That time will stand still when, and only when, life draws to a close because it will no longer matter.
The clothing she describes is what her dead body is dressed in and is reminds me of becoming death's bride, and he takes her to her new home - her grave - "a swelling of the ground". And then how so much time has passed since death but it seems like none has at all since her passing. She often wondered about her own death and value of her own life and impression she made while here. Quite a stunning poem, I think.

Answer 3

I think this is an excellent reminder that death does not always give notice nor does it wait for us. Death may not be so cruel after all especially if it is our passport to eternal life. I think the persona believes in life after death.

Answer 4

She is saying that she had no time for death, because her life was to busy. Because she didn't have time, he made the time...afterall, death has no time restraints. Once you are dead, time means nothing. The house that is "a swelling of the ground" in my opinion is a grave or a mosoleum. "The Cornice in the ground" is basically the moulding of the house, or it's framework, but it's underground like a coffin. The latter half of the poem is her describing moments of their time together. The last stanza, she is assuming that the carriage of death she is in is going towards eternity. She will live no longer.

Answer 5

I believe it means death is unavoidable, and throughout the poem, she gets closer and closer to death. Like children playing represents life, while the sun setting represents death. Her view of death is not necessarily bad, in fact she says it is kind. Perhaps she likes death, because of the traumatic life she had lived.

Answer 6

It means that we are all on the track towards death - none of us want it to come, but we all accept the fact that we were born to die!

Answer 7

http://www.wikinut.com/would-you-marry-death/1q1vw9_l/2wm_9fio/

Answer 8

idk