There's been a Death, in the Opposite House,
As lately as Today --
I know it, by the numb look
Such Houses have -- alway --

The Neighbors rustle in and out --
The Doctor -- drives away --
A Window opens like a Pod --
Abrupt -- mechanically --

Somebody flings a Mattress out --
The Children hurry by --
They wonder if it died -- on that --
I used to -- when a Boy --

The Minister -- goes stiffly in --
As if the House were His --
And He owned all the Mourners -- now --
And little Boys -- besides --

And then the Milliner -- and the Man
Of the Appalling Trade --
To take the measure of the House --
There'll be that Dark Parade --

Of Tassels -- and of Coaches -- soon --
It's easy as a Sign --
The Intuition of the News --
In just a Country Town --

Added: on May 18th, 2009 at 11:48 AM | Viewed: 14664 times | Comments (27)

Poet: Emily Dickinson (Emily Dickinson Art)
Poem: 389. There's been a Death, in the Opposite House,
Volume: Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
Year: Published/Written in 1955
Poem of the Day: Mar 30 2002

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