She died－this was the way she died. 1
And when her breath was done
Took up her simple wardrobe
And started for the sun.
Her little figure at the gate 5
The Angels must have spied,
Since I could never find her
Upon the mortal side.
And when her breath was done
Took up her simple wardrobe
And started for the sun.
Her little figure at the gate 5
The Angels must have spied,
Since I could never find her
Upon the mortal side.
(F.154/J.150)
[1, 7] She, I:: The narrator found a girl failed to be herself in a speech under the supervision of the priests. Both can be Dickinson herself.
[1] died:: failed (to speak out the truth).
[2] breath was done:: prepared, ready.
[3] wardrobe:: her clothes for the speech.
[4] sun:: glory.
[5] little:: small in dignity. figure:: the role she played; a short for figure of speech (OED figure 22a). gate:: the way, method.
[6] Angels:: priests.
[7, 8] never, mortal side:: the speech favored God but not the human.