Poems 413-503 Summary

In Poem 413 Emily writes about displacement and her desire to run away from God's watchful eye. She opens her poem by stating that she doesn't feel at home on earth. She then assumes she will not feel at home in heaven either. In the next stanza Emily gives her reasons for knowing she won't like heaven. She writes that there it is Sunday, a day associated with ritual and propriety, all the time and that recess, or times for relaxation, never comes. In the third stanza she voices her lack of comfort with the idea that God watches over us all the time. She wishes his watchful eye would take a break. In the final stanza she contemplates trying to run away from God but knows she cannot escape Judgment Day.

In Poem 429 Emily pledges her obedience to some distant acquaintance...