Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

I’ve been sitting at my kitchen computer contemplating a recipe review that I’m just plain too tired to write tonight and listening to two noises.  It’s July and only my screen door is shut, so one of them is fireworks, but there’s also a fly buzzing around my kitchen garbage bowl.  Once my conscious mind registered that noise, guess what popped into my head?

I heard a fly buzz–when I died…

I don’t even particularly LIKE Emily Dickinson!  I mean, yes, I can absolutely think of a few of her poems that I find brilliant, but she’s really not my cup of tea.

And yet.   I can’t remember what we had for dinner last night, but when I hear a fly buzz–bingo!  Here’s the entire poem, which of course I had to Google.  (I only really  know the first line.)

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –  
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air –  
Between the Heaves of Storm – 

The Eyes around – had wrung them dry –  
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset – when the King
Be witnessed – in the Room –  

I willed my Keepsakes – Signed away
What portions of me be
Assignable – and then it was
There interposed a Fly –  

With Blue – uncertain stumbling Buzz –  
Between the light – and me –  
And then the Windows failed – and then
I could not see to see –