Poems 600-722 Summary

Fear is the subject dealt with in Poem 608. Emily first declares she is more afraid of the doorkeeper in her father's house than she is of death. Emily next states she is not afraid of life either. She points out that it is hard to be afraid of something that encompasses oneself as life does. Finally, Emily states she is afraid of the resurrection no more than the east is afraid of the morning time. Meanwhile, Poem 609 tells of returning home after being away for several years. Emily expresses dread at the idea of knocking on the door for fear that someone she does not know will answer and want to know why she is there. In the conclusion of the poem Emily runs from the house silently, like a thief, so no one will know she has been there.

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