The bustle in a house

Summary

This poem grapples with the somber reality of dealing with a loved one's death. It focuses on the deep sense of loss felt in the immediate aftermath, highlighting the activities carried out in a house after a death, described as the solemnest of industries. The poet metaphorically describes the process of emotionally coping and making sense of grief by comparing it to tidying up the heart and setting aside love until a future reunion in eternity. The poem captures the quiet, profound moments of reflection and the ritual of mourning, emphasizing how life pauses and changes after someone dear departs.

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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.