I Died for Beauty

I died for beauty--but was scarce

Adjusted in the Tomb

When the One who died for Truth was lain

In an adjoining room--

He questioned softly "Why I failed"?

"For beauty", I replied--

"An I-- For Truth-- Themself are One--

We Brethren, are", He said--

And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night--

We talked between the Rooms--

Until the Moss had reached our lips--

And covered up-- our names--

~Emily Dickinson~ 

I think that this poem is very dark and beautiful, from the theme and language to the mood. I find it fascinating how something as sad, sometimes, as a gravestone can be turned into something beautiful. "He questioned softly 'why I failed'?" "'For beauty', I replied--" "'An I-- For Truth'..." They are two young people in their graves, talking to one another about how they died. The girl was barely used to her tomb when, presumably a soldier of some sort "One who died for Truth", was lain to rest beside her. It is sad and beautiful at the same time.

I stumbled across this poem and fell in love with its simplicity but complexity at the same time. Some poems that say so much more than what is written, the best ones do. And they leave you thinking, mulling over what you read, again and again. Poems like this one stick with me.