Delayed till she had ceased to know —
Delayed till in its vest of snow
Her loving bosom lay —
An hour behind the fleeting breath —
Later by just an hour than Death —
Oh lagging Yesterday!

Could she have guessed that it would be —
Could but a crier of the joy
Have climbed the distant hill —
Had not the bliss so slow a pace
Who knows but this surrendered face
Were undefeated still?

Oh if there may departing be
Any forgot by Victory
In her imperial round —
Show them this meek appareled thing
That could not stop to be a king —
Doubtful if it be crowned!

Analysis, meaning and summary of Emily Dickinson's poem Delayed till she had ceased to know

1 Comment

  1. Megan Carter says:
    November 26, 2007 at 10:27 am

    This poem is passionate and beautiful. The words flow on my tongue like water in a river.

    Reply

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