The Bustle in a House
The Morning after Death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon Earth —

The Sweeping up the Heart
And putting Love away
We shall not want to use again
Until Eternity.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Emily Dickinson's poem The Bustle in a House

8 Comments

  1. raquisha says:

    This poem made me think of people when they die. Like half my family did last night during that shooting

  2. Sam says:

    Yah this poem is just about someone who died and the worst job after someone dies is cleaning up their messes they left before they died.

  3. pooja says:

    this poem is how one must put aside thier feelings and love for the person who died in order to do all the chores that must be done. The love must be “swept up” and put away until u meet them again.

  4. Merle says:

    After the death of al oved one, a person has so much to do–arrangements, decisions, telephone calls, food to prepare for visitors. You have to “sweep up the heart” (not be emotional)so you can tend to the immediate chores and business. There will be never be other love like this. I suppose that it’s essential to “sweep up the heart” in order to funcion.
    “sweep up the heart: in order to continue livin.

  5. Beth says:

    I discovered this poem years ago, after my best friend had died unexpectedly at age 24. Her husband was in shock, and her parents wanted all of her things sent to them. So I spent the day after her funeral boxing up her clothes and shoes and everything that she had ever owned. This poem perfectly captures the feelings I had that day. It was such strange “work” to be doing. And when everything was boxed and folded and brought down the stairs and put into the living room for the movers to pick up the next morning, I too felt that I had put away a “love” that was unique. I would never feel that way about anyone else, because each person you love in your life is loved in their own special way. You can never replace one person with another. You can love again, but it is never “the same.” You will only feel the same way when you once again are with the person you lost, and that will be when you join him or her in “Eternity.”

  6. Megan says:

    I really liked this poem, it really touched me in a way i cant explain, at first i didnt really understand what it was saying but i feel that shes talking about letting go of someone or something that she loved and how its hard to just let go but thats all thats left to do…

  7. don says:

    i really dont like her..im stuck doing a freakin essay for english

  8. Aline says:

    This poem is a very sad one. It talks mainly about the feelings a person feels after a loved one’s death. Makes you forget about everything around you. How a person must let go of feelings and not look back because it is the only thing left to do. It is a pain never wanted to be experienced again until they die.

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