Because I could not stop for Love,
She kindly stopped for me.
And I collapsed into her arms,
Cured then of being free.
In a golden carriage far we drove
Off cliffs and over rises.
Each time I felt sure that I'd died
But Love never lacks surprises.
And we passed Death along the road,
I waved but he would not reply-
I pounded on the windows gold
But he mutely passed me by.
For Love sat not with me inside
But whipped the horses viciously.
I asked her why and she replied,
"Love means no company."
We passed a church and, out behind,
A graveyard glowing in the dusk,
Two lovers' silhouettes defined
Beside a tombstone, clasped in lust.
We passed a darkened house and there
A lanky boy threw pinging pebbles.
And as the light when on, the air
Was filled with midnight funeral bells.
We passed a first kiss, slow and sweet,
Two schoolgirls shamed but still adoring,
And every time their lips would meet
A raven hoarsely tried to sing.
We passed a man and wife's "I do."
And peering through the stained glass window
Pallbearers paused their work to see
The other face of sorrow.
One thought gloats over all I see,
"When all is said and done,"
I muse in silent reverie,
"Love leaves you quite alone."
Because I could not stop for Love,
She kindly stopped for me.
And I will die my deathless death
For all eternity.
Yes, this is a deliberate... not parody of, but... tie-in, I guess, with Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop For Death". I really wanted the Love as Death thing to be abundantly clear, so... yes. Enjoy. (hopefully)