Death sets a Thing significant
The Eye had hurried by
Except a perished Creature
Entreat us tenderly

To ponder little Workmanships
In Crayon, or in Wool,
With “This was last Her fingers did” —
Industrious until —

The Thimble weighed too heavy —
The stitches stopped — by themselves —
And then ’twas put among the Dust
Upon the Closet shelves —

A Book I have — a friend gave —
Whose Pencil — here and there —
Had notched the place that pleased Him —
At Rest — His fingers are —

Now — when I read — I read not —
For interrupting Tears —
Obliterate the Etchings
Too Costly for Repairs.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Emily Dickinson's poem Death sets a Thing significant

10 Comments

  1. Gretchen says:

    Little girls used to be required to do embroidery with wool and learn to draw with “crayon” which was probably actually pencil. Also, it was very common for children to get sick and then die when little. That might help with the first three stanzas– the Creature is not an animal but a person. It also helps if you ignore all the dashes when you read. Good luck!

  2. frumpo says:

    Remembering dead loved ones by the small things they leave behind.

  3. gracie says:

    lauren, for the record, emily dickinson led a very depressed secluded life, and i agree with melanie, if you’re not interested in poetry keep your nasty comments to yourself. Emily Dickinson is presenting a feeling that we all have in an artistic manner. We all get choked up when we see an object that had significance or sentimental value to a loved one that passed away, that is what this poem is about. Do a little research if you’re stuck, but don’t bash the poet because dont get it.

  4. Melanie says:

    This is a beautiful, touching, and heartfelt poem, one of her better in my oppinion. I have to agree with Laura in the meaning, and also must state that if you are someone who doesn’t appreciate poetry and the analysis then it would be a much smarter usage of your time to spend it somewhere other than a poetry commentary; you only have one life, after all.

  5. Laura says:

    this poem is about the loss of love and how the little things they leave behind is what is remembered. these small tokens help the people left behind remember those gone.

  6. buford says:

    this whole analyze thing is such a waste of time, and you are a geek for doing it.

  7. Lauren says:

    OKAY FOR REAL I JUST MADE A COMMENT AND NOW I’M REALLYYY MAD B.C ITS NOT ON HERE AND I NEED HELP ANALYZING THIS POEM! EMILY DICKINSON IS GAY & I HOPE THAT WHOEVER PUBLISHED HER POETRY LIVED A VERY UNHAPPY SECLUDED LIFE!!!!!!

  8. Lauren says:

    you know it would really help if all you poetry geeks could analyze this poem b.c i’m completely stuck on it && i have no idea whats going on! so i need some help here! SO FOR REAL COME ON KIDS HELP A SISTA OUT!

  9. Alethia says:

    This poem is great! It basically says that when people die we remember them in thier personal objects or in things they gave us. Awsome the way she put it though.

  10. Princess Ramirez says:

    this poem is sad and right now i want to be away from everyone. i want to be with death so he can set a thing for me!

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