Valley of Life | Online Memorial Blog

Yet another poem by Dickinson shows not only her versatility but her ability to speak to different aspects of death, grief, and mourning. In this particular work, Dickinson muses about the concept of “Heaven.” It would seem, on Dickinson’s part, that Heaven is still a profound mystery, but that we catch glimpses of “the place/That Men call ‘paradise’–” in our everyday intersections with nature. Her use of imagery — connecting perceptions of heaven with the natural world — paints a beautiful picture of what the afterlife may look like. Surely, her lyrics will ease the pain of mourning and comfort those who have lost loved ones in this present life. (more…)

Even though the subject matter of Emily Dickinson’s poetry is often dark, the use of imagery and metaphor in her prose is extraordinary, and Dickinson’s metaphors for death are consistently insightful and intriguing. For instance, in the poem below, she compares death to the stopping of clock that “would not stir for Doctors” and “quivered out of decimals.”  While death can be a harsh reality, Dickinson’s use of metaphor, in essence, subconsciously softens the truth by equating it with something inanimate. Dickinson’s poem, A Clock Stopped, is an excellent example. If you’re searching for poetry to honor the death of a loved one, it seems fitting to use such beautiful and excellent poetry like that of Dickinson.  If not the following poem, you certainly can’t go wrong with any of her other works. (more…)

I came across this poem of Emily Dickinson’s today and thought it a brilliant observation concerning the untimeliness of death. Her opening line begins an insightful commentary on how we often busy about our lives unaware that tragedy could strike at any moment. And perhaps, on some level, we believe putting death out of our minds will ward it off. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Here’s what Dickinson has to say: (more…)