I need help understanding this poem?

Question

The poem is The bustle in a house by emily dickinson. I was reading a book and I came across it. I'm just wondering if anyone can tell me exactly what it means. see below:

The bustle in a House

The Morning after Death

Is solemnest of industries

Enacted upon Earth--

The Sweeping up the Heart

And putting Love away

We shall no want to use again

Until Eternity.

Answer 1

I think different people would have different interpretations for this poem.  This is one of my favourites by Dickinson, and this is what I see:

The bustle in a House

The Morning after Death

>>> Someone has just died, and a home is dealing with the trauma.  I imagine people trying to distract themselves, people in shock, people in grief.  Also, the "House" can also mean a body, a person, the House of the soul.  Imagine the feelings, the bustle, the confusion, in one's body and brain after someone they love dies...

Is solemnest of industries

Enacted upon Earth--

>>> What is an industry?  It is a "devoted activity at any work or task"; it comes from the Latin for "diligence". Trying to move on from death is an Industry; trying to cope with death is an Industry, and, of course, it is one of the most silent, holy, and solemn tasks in all the world.  

The Sweeping up the Heart

>>> Taking your heart and cleaning the pieces, and sweeping it up.  Your heart has been broken by the death, of course.... you have to clean it up..... and then what do you do with it?

And putting Love away

>>> The love you had of the person was in your heart, no?  Where to put your love now, now that your heart is broken?  You must keep it an a safe place; do you repair your heart and put the Love back inside?  Do you keep it in a place where nobody can find it, at all?  

We shall not want to use again

>>> The love you had for that person was special, and nothing or nobody can ever replace it.  This Love cannot be used anymore.  The Love you had was unique.  Would you want to replace someone you love?  Of course not.  What you had was special; it can never be reproduced... it cannot be recycled.  

Until Eternity.

>>> A very personal line.  Does this mean until the end of time?  Or does it mean until the eternity of life, until death, where you are reunited?  Or are you not reunited at all?  Is the Love gone forever?  Or does the Love go into Eternity?  What a bustle in one's mind this could be...

:)

Answer 2

seems like it's about a family member that has passed away and they're hoping they see him when Jesus returns?? i think.

Answer 3

Don't know if this is 100% correct, but I think it has to deal with loving someone.  If you grow to love someone, and that person dies, it hurts that much more.  So, to protect oneself from being hurt, Dickinson is suggesting that love be withheld until a time (possibly in heaven) where death will not be a factor that one would have to deal with.