Emily Dickinson and Dido

In my English class we are discussing poetry. What a rich and fantastic subject! One of the poems we discussed in our workshop today was Emily Dickison's "Because I could not stop for Death." At first I didn't understand the poem at all; naturally I disliked it. But the more we talked, I realized that maybe the puzzling poet's work could be understood by even someone as un-morbid and un-romantic as myself. (By romantic, I'm referring to the romantic era of music and literature.) I was also astounded by the fact that once I began to understand the poem, it reminded me of a very familiar song. Here is the poem, a link to the song, and the lyrics:

Because I could not stop for Death--Emily Dickison (written 1863)

Because I could not stop for Death--

He kindly stopped for me--

The Carriage held but just Ourselves--

And Immortality.

We slowly drove--He knew no haste

And I had put away

My labor and my leisure too,

For His Civility--

We passed the School, where Children strove

At Recess--in the Ring--

We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain--

We passed the Setting Sun--

Or rather--He passed Us

The Dews drew quivering and chill--

For only Gossamer, my Gown--

My Tippet--only Tulle--

We passed before a House that seemed

A Swelling of the Ground--

The Roof was scarely visible--

The Cornice--in the Ground--

Since then--'tis Centuries--and yet

Feels shorter than the Day

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

Were toward Eternity--

Do You Have a Little Time?--Dido Armstrong