Emily Dickinson, Lyric Video, Because I could not stop for Death, music by Mo McMorrow

I recorded this song of Emily Dickinson's poem 3 years ago. I used to teach special education at a school with a classical education model. Back before the 2020 shut down happened due to the pandemic, I would hear the students' choral recitations. One class would "invade" another in a poetry war to see which class ran out of poems first. This experience inspired me to sing some of these poems. Here's one of the results. I hope you like it. Feel free to share if you want to. :)

Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –

Or rather – He passed Us –
The Dews drew quivering and Chill –
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity –

#emilydickinson