Dying
Dying
Original Text
Poems (1890-1896) by Emily Dickinson: A Facsimile Reproduction of the Original Volumes Issued in 1890, 1891, and 1896, with an Introduction by George Monteiro (Gainesville, Florida: Scholars' Facsimiles).
1I heard a fly buzz when I died;
3Was like the stillness in the air
4Between the heaves of storm.
9I willed my keepsakes, signed away
12There interposed a fly,
13With blue, uncertain, stumbling buzz,
14Between the light and me;
15And then the windows failed, and then
16I could not see to see.
Notes
2] round my form: the existing manuscript version of poem 465, The Manuscript Books of Emily Dickinson, edited by R. W. Franklin in two volumes (Cambridge, Mass., and London: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1981: I, 591; fascicle 26; PS 1541 A1 1981 ROBA), reads "in the room". Back to Line
5] beside: the existing manuscript version reads "around". Back to Line
6] sure: the existing manuscript version reads "firm". Back to Line
7] king: possibly death. Back to Line
8] his power: the existing manuscript version reads "the room". Back to Line
10] I: the existing manuscript version reads "be". Back to Line
11] Could make assignable, --: the existing manuscript version reads "Assignable,".
and then: the existing manuscript version reads "and then it was". Back to Line
and then: the existing manuscript version reads "and then it was". Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1896
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1997
Rhyme