There's Been a Death in the Opposite House

My dad, Bill Suitt, passed away today about 6:55am. I was lucky to be there and he went very peacefully. This has always been one of my favorite poems by Dickinson. Feel free to blog me a poem like the great one Steve Himmer left for me at OnePotMeal.com . Thanks to all for the kind words.

There's Been a Death in the Opposite House
by Emily Dickinson


There's been a death in the opposite house
As lately as today.
I know it by the numb look
Such houses have alway.

The neighbours rustle in and out,
The doctor drives away.
A window opens like a pod,
Abrupt, mechanically;

Somebody flings a mattress out, -
The children hurry by;
They wonder if It died on that, -
I used to when a boy.

The minister goes stiffly in
As if the house were his,
And he owned all the mourners now,
And little boys besides;

And then the milliner, and the man
Of the appalling trade,
To take the measure of the house.
There'll be that dark parade

Of tassels and of coaches soon;
It's easy as a sign, -
The intuition of the news
In just a country town.