The Bustle in a House by Emily Dickinson
Analysis
In "The Bustle in a House", Dickinson is discussing her loved one passing away. It is known that Dickinson was in a relationship with someone who passed away. However, some people think that "death" as a metaphor for a break up, and to her, it feels like a funeral. She feels that she is "putting love away" as she does not feel she can handle it ever again, "until eternity." Nonetheless, this poem is quite possibly literal. It is most likely about her love passing away and she will not be able to see them again until she dies.
This short poem consists of only two stanzas with four lines in each. Dickinson uses imperfect rhymes and half-rhymes instead of perfect-rhymes to rhyme the second and fourth lines of each stanza. The first, second, and fourth lines are iambic-triameter while the third line is iambic-quatrameter in each stanza.
Johnson number: 1078
Poem
The Bustle in a House 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.
Next: Come Slowly, Eden!
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Nationality
American
Literary Movement
19th Century
Subjects
Death, Lost Love, Grief