I heard a Fly buzz－when I died－by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson
I heard a Fly buzz－when I died－

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 sure
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－

Comment:



The poem is written by Emily Dickinson, and the title of the poem is the first line of the poem because lack of title is one of features of Dickinson's poems.

The most significant element in this poem is the fly. Why does Dickinson not use other insects like bee or gnat in the poem? Compared to bee or gnat, fly is more associated with death because they are easy to be found around dead bodies.

There are four stanzas in the poem. The first stanza describes the moment before death.

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 word "Stillness" has two different implications. First, "stillness" means calmness which shows the dying person is relatively calmer. However, "stillness" could also mean death because stillness has the feature of coolness and no moving. From the watchers' perspective, the word "stillness" could use to describes the death of the person because death body could not move any more and just quietly stay there. The fly makes buzzing sound in the room. The stillness in the room and the buzzing sounds become a strong contract between life and death. Even though the stillness and calmness are in the room, something is going to come. "The heaves of storm" may depict the struggles just right before death. The chest raises and fails in order to obtain more air to keep the dying life.

The second stanza:

The Eyes around－had wrung them dry－
And breaths were gathering sure
For that last onset－when the king
Be witnessed－in the Room－

This stanza is still from the dying person's perspective or angle to observe the surroundings. The friends or family members are sad. The breaths of the dying person is getting rapid and short. Getting more air become the "last onset." However, facing death there is nothing can win. In my own interpretation, I think the king is the king of the death. While the dying person is struggling to get more air, the king of the death is watching her in order to witness the death.

The third stanza

I willed my Keepsakes－Signed away
What portion of me be
Assignable－and then it was
There interposed a Fly－

All the possessions become useless and meaningless when one is dying because one bares one's hands enter the world, and one will be leave with a bare hands as well. The lines tell the readers that the dying person is willing to cut her attachments to this world. However, instead of the kind of the death, a fly appears before she dies. It may represent that the fly is the king of the death. Or, the appearance of the fly reveals the certain death is going to come.


The final stanza

With blue－uncertain stumbling buzz－
Between the light－and me－
And then the windows failed－and then
I could not see to see－

I really like the last stanza of the poem. With the buzzing sound, the dying person is gradually losing her life. The buzzing sound is fading out, and the light is getting feebler. The windows are always used to represent the eyes, and when the windows failed, the eyes are close, which indicates the end of the life. The most emotional line is the last line of the poem: "I could not see to see－"  I think there have two totally different meanings. First, it shows Dickinson believes there is no more life after death because the windows is closed, and there is dark and no one can see. However, there are some hopes because "I could not see to see" for me is stilling seeing and watching. "I could not see" means the function of the body is failed, so she is not able to see. Yet, "to see" gives people a feeling that even though is not able to see, people still can see after death, even just seeing darkness.

I think it is the most profound poem I have ever read. Or, maybe I just have read too few.
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