To think that we must forever live and never cease to be. It seems as if death which all so dread because it launches us upon an unknown world would be a relief to so endless a state of existence." Dickinson heavily believed that it was important to retain the power of consciousness after life. The question of mental cessation at death was an overtone of many of her poems. The imminent contingency of death, as the ultimate source of awe, wonder, and endless questions, was life's most fascinating feature to Dickinson. Dickinson challenges the mysteries of death with evasion, despair, curiosity or hope in her poetry as means to clarify her curiosity. From examining her poems of natural transitions of life and death, changing states of consciousness, as a speaker from beyond the grave, confronting death in a journey or dream and on the dividing line of life and death one can see that Dickinson points to death as the final inevitable change.

             The intensity of Dickinson's curiosity about dying and her enthusiasm to learn of the dying persons' experience at the point of mortality is evident in her poetry. She studies the effect of the deads' disappearance, on the living world, in a hope to conjecture something about the new life they are experiencing after death. Dickinson believes that a dying person's consciousness does not die with the body at death but rather it lives on and intensifies. In To know just how He suffered-would be dear.

             To know just how He suffered -- would be dear --.

             To know if any Human eyes were near.

             To whom He could entrust His wavering gaze --.

             Until it settle broad -- on Paradise --.

             To know if He was patient -- part content --.

             Was Dying as He thought -- or different --.

             Was it a pleasant Day to die --.

             And did the Sunshine face his way --.

             What was His furthest mind -- Of Home -- or God --.

             Or what the Distant say --.

             At news that He ceased Human Nature.

             Such a Day --.

             And Wishes -- Had He Any --.