If you were coming in the fall

1. What does the speaker feel by the end of the poem? Are they still willing to wait forever for their lover, or do they come to realize that it will be too hard to wait forever? Look at the last stanza and think about how it compares to the previous stanzas.

2. Some think the fourth stanza represents the speaker’s belief that they will meet their lover in heaven, so they are willing to wait until death. Others think it means the speaker is willing to end their life on the chance that they will meet their lover again after they die. Which do you think is the correct interpretation and why? If you think there is a different interpretation, explain your rationale. (It may be helpful to note that Emily Dickinson was Christian, but she constantly wavered in her faith throughout her life.)

3. Think about this poem in the context of a relationship. Do you think this kind of devotion is healthy and a sign of true love, or do you think the emotions suggest a sign of harmful dependency? Think about other media you’ve seen that depicts love like this. Do you think our society encourages this kind of love? Do you agree or disagree with these depictions?