Emily Dickinson

The Sun Kept Setting Setting Still

poem 692

The Sun Kept Setting Setting Still - meaning Summary

Facing Mortality with Calm

The poem presents a quiet, interior account of dying as altered perception. Ordinary scenes—sunset, dusk, drowsy limbs—are described as stalled or repeated, while sensations focus inward on the speaker’s forehead and face. Physical activity wanes and awareness sharpens, culminating in a calm recognition: death is a process the speaker experiences but does not fear. The tone combines stillness, introspection, and acceptance rather than panic or dramatic imagery.

Read Complete Analyses

The Sun kept setting setting still No Hue of Afternoon Upon the Village I perceived From House to House ’twas Noon The Dusk kept dropping dropping still No Dew upon the Grass But only on my Forehead stopped And wandered in my Face My Feet kept drowsing drowsing still My fingers were awake Yet why so little sound Myself Unto my Seeming make? How well I knew the Light before I could see it now ‘Tis Dying I am doing but I’m not afraid to know

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