Emily Dickinson's poem "I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died" poses a question to the reader "what is the significance of the buzzing fly in relation to the dying person?" In a mood of outward quiet and inner calm, the dying person peacefully proceeds to bestow her possessions to others, and while willing her possessions, she finds her attention withdrawn by a fly's buzzing. The fly is introduced in close connection with "my keepsakes" and "what portion of me be assignable." The dying person has an obsession with cherished material things no longer of use to the departing owner. In the face of death, and even more of a possible spiritual life beyond death, one's concern with a few belongings is but trivial, and indeed a distraction from the issue of death itself. The physical aspects of ones existence are prominent, and this is expressively illustrated by the intervening fly. Even so small a self-evident creature is sufficient to separate the dying person from "the light," so that......

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Title: Emily Dickinson: I Heard A Flyy Buzz When I Died
Approximate Word Count: 1231
Approximate Pages: 5 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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