In "This World is not Conclusion," Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) explores the tension between faith and doubt. The poem's speaker intuits that this world isn't the only one and that people go on to another world after they die. But their belief stands on shaky ground. Though many have tried, the speaker uneasily observes, no one can really prove the existence of an afterlife—so it's hard to really get comfortable with the idea, and doubt gnaws at them. This poem (like nearly all of Dickinson's work) wasn't published until after her death; it first appeared in the 1896 collection Poems.
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1This World is not Conclusion.
2A Species stands beyond—
3Invisible, as Music—
4But positive, as Sound—
5It beckons, and it baffles—
6Philosophy, dont know—
7And through a Riddle, at the last—
8Sagacity, must go—
9To guess it, puzzles scholars—
10To gain it, Men have borne
11Contempt of Generations
12And Crucifixion, shown—
13Faith slips—and laughs, and rallies—
14Blushes, if any see—
15Plucks at a twig of Evidence—
16And asks a Vane, the way—
17Much Gesture, from the Pulpit—
18Strong Hallelujahs roll—
19Narcotics cannot still the Tooth
20That nibbles at the soul—
1This World is not Conclusion.
2A Species stands beyond—
3Invisible, as Music—
4But positive, as Sound—
5It beckons, and it baffles—
6Philosophy, dont know—
7And through a Riddle, at the last—
8Sagacity, must go—
9To guess it, puzzles scholars—
10To gain it, Men have borne
11Contempt of Generations
12And Crucifixion, shown—
13Faith slips—and laughs, and rallies—
14Blushes, if any see—
15Plucks at a twig of Evidence—
16And asks a Vane, the way—
17Much Gesture, from the Pulpit—
18Strong Hallelujahs roll—
19Narcotics cannot still the Tooth
20That nibbles at the soul—
This World is not Conclusion.
A Species stands beyond—
Invisible, as Music—
But positive, as Sound—
It beckons, and it baffles—
Philosophy, dont know—
And through a Riddle, at the last—
Sagacity, must go—
To guess it, puzzles scholars—
To gain it, Men have borne
Contempt of Generations
And Crucifixion, shown—
Faith slips—and laughs, and rallies—
Blushes, if any see—
Plucks at a twig of Evidence—
And asks a Vane, the way—
Much Gesture, from the Pulpit—
Strong Hallelujahs roll—
Narcotics cannot still the Tooth
That nibbles at the soul—
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
Dickinson's Legacy — Read contemporary novelist Helen Oyeyemi's essay on what Dickinson means to her.
The Emily Dickinson Museum — Visit the website of the Emily Dickinson Museum to find a detailed overview of the poet's life and work.
The Poem Aloud — Listen to a reading of the poem.
Dickinson and Religion — Read an article discussing Dickinson's complicated relationship with religious faith and doubt.
Emily Dickinson Archive — Visit the Emily Dickinson Archive to see images of Dickinson's manuscripts and learn about how they were discovered and published.