Studio 360

American Icons

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

Emily Dickinson is one of those writers whose life is as famous as her writing. After Emily Dickinson died, her sister found nearly two thousand poems in her bureau, all ready for publication. In a surprising number of those poems, Emily Dickinson was writing from beyond the grave. "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," Dickinson’s fantasy of getting picked up by the grim reaper, has become standard reading curriculum in English classes across America -- but it’s still a very strange work of art. For our series on American Icons, WBUR's Sean Cole - a poet himself -- took a closer look at Dickinson's legendary work.

Voices in the Story

Billy Collins

Former U.S. Poet Laureate

Buy The Trouble with Poetry: And Other Poems

Joseph Lease

Poet and Chair of the MFA Program in Writing at California College of the Arts

Belinda West

Emily Dickinson Portrayer

Cindy Dickinson

Director of Programming and Interpretation at the Emily Dickinson Homestead and Museum

Jenny Proctor

College Student/Dickinson fan

Robert Howard

Writer

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Studio 360's American Icons is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life.

Studio 360 is a co-production of Public Radio International and WNYC New York Public Radio, and is funded in part by Ken and Lucy Lehman, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, DK Eyewitness Travel, Herman Miller and Design Within Reach. Studio 360's American Icons series is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our series on creativity and science is supported in part by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Our series on Underground Heroes is supported in part by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.