“If you were coming in the Fall”

The poem “If you were coming in the Fall” is the story of a person missing a loved one, who laments the fact they can never be together and says they would cast aside all of time to be with them. Whether the person that is gone was a lover or a close friend is never specified, nor is that fate of the missing person. However, it is hinted that they are dead. There are several poetic mechanics used throughout the poem, the most prominent being Parallelism and simile.

*Post-Reading Questions*

What is the relationship between the two characters?

What was the fate of the person the author is writing about?

What is the message of the final stanza?

Does the speaker believe they will see the person again?

Why might Emily Dickinson write this poem?