She lay as if at play
Her life had leaped away —
Intending to return —
But not so soon —

Her merry Arms, half dropt —
As if for lull of sport —
An instant had forgot —
The Trick to start —

Her dancing Eyes — ajar —
As if their Owner were
Still sparkling through
For fun — at you —

Her Morning at the door —
Devising, I am sure —
To force her sleep —
So light — so deep —

Analysis, meaning and summary of Emily Dickinson's poem She lay as if at play

2 Comments

  1. frumpo says:

    The corpse of a person who was full of life when living looks ready to spring into life again.

  2. Amy. says:

    I really like this poem, i’ve been looking for it for a while. I saw it in the ‘his dark materials’ trilogy at the beginning of a chapter.

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