Emily Dickinson

I went to thank her

Summary

The poem reflects on the speaker's experience of visiting a gravesite to offer gratitude to a woman who has passed away. It explores themes of loss, remembrance, and the passage of time, highlighting how the deceased is surrounded by floral tributes left by those who came to appreciate and thank her. The sense of yearning is emphasized by the contrast between the ease of traveling to her resting place and the difficulty of moving on emotionally after seeing her resting in peace. The imagery of the 'funnelled stone' conveys a somber, respectful atmosphere, as the speaker acknowledges the finality of death and the enduring impact of the departed on those left behind.

Read Online

I went to thank her,
But she slept;
Her bed a funnelled stone,
With nosegays at the head and foot,
That travellers had thrown,

Who went to thank her;
But she slept.
‘T was short to cross the sea
To look upon her like, alive,
But turning back ‘t was slow.

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