A Poet’s Love Lost
by @Marie-Lynn
September 7, 2021
After exploring the DS106 Assignment Bank, I decided to try my hand at the “Poem Parody” assignment. The poem I chose to parody was Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not stop for Death – (479)”, which I have included in the right-hand column below, while my parody version is located in the left-hand column below. Though my parody turned out to be more morbid than I originally intended, I still wanted to share it since the theme of Dickinson’s original poem is death and I pretty much turned her poem into a narrative about a husband abandoning his family. Not exactly humorous at first glance, but I do find something ironic about “Death” turning into “Jeff” and leaving his wife and kids… I know my sense of humor is a little odd! Please let me know what you think by commenting below! Parody Because I would not stop for Jeff–He refused to stop for me –This Marriage held by just Ourselves –And Jealousy. We wearily fell– He had no tasteAnd I had put awayMy labor and my love too,For His Discourtesy– He passed the School, where our Children stroveAt Recess – in the Ring –He passed the City with posthaste – He passed the Waning Moon –Or rather – He passed Us –The Kids drew shivering in the evening Chill –For only Gossamer, my Gown –He took my Tippet – my only Chattel – He paused before a House that seemedA Swelling of the Ground –The Moon was scarcely visible –Our Love – in the Ground – Since then – ’tis Decades Past – and yetFeels shorter than the DayI first surmised my Husband’s LeftWere all but Detached– Original 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 hasteAnd I had put awayMy labor and my leisure too,For His Civility – We passed the School, where Children stroveAt 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 seemedA Swelling of the Ground –The Roof was scarcely visible –The Cornice – in the Ground – Since then – ’tis Centuries – and yetFeels shorter than the DayI first surmised the Horses’ HeadsWere toward Eternity –