I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died

By EMILY DICKINSON  (1830-1886)

I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -

The Stillness in the Room

Was like the Stillness in the Air -

Between the Heaves of Storm -

The Eyes around had wrung them dry

­And Breaths were gathering firm

For that last Onset when the King

Be witnessed in the Room -

I willed my Keepsakes - Signed away

What portion of me be

Assignable - and then it was

There interposed a Fly -

With Blue - uncertain stumbling Buzz

- Between the light - and me -

And then the Windows failed - and then

I could not see to see -