The Last Night that she Lived

THE LAST night that she lived,

It was a common night,

Except the dying; this to us

Made nature different.

We noticed smallest things,—

Things overlooked before,

By this great light upon our minds

Italicized, as ’t were.

As we went in and out

Through her final room

And room were those to be alive

Tomorrow were a blame

That others could exist

While she must finish quite,

A jealousy for her arose

So nearly infinite.

We waited while she passed;

It was a narrow time,

Too jostled were our souls to speak,

At length the notice came.

She mentioned, and forgot;

Then lightly as a reed

Bent to the water, shivered scarce,

Consented, and was dead.

And we, we placed the hair,

And drew the head erect;

And then an awful leisure was,

Our faith to regulate.

by Emily Dickinson