Emily Dickinson Nesmith’s reasoning for the fly made perfect sense. The fly was a normal occurrence, or annoyance, in this part of her life. He sums up the fly’s presence by saying, “Even during significant events, life goes on, much of it rather mundane” (Nesmith, 1939). Dickinson was writing about her death. There is nothing more serious than the beginning of a life or the ending of a life. Focus is on the emotions, the welfare, and the comfort in situations such as death. Dickinson’s poem began to describe the last moments of life as one might expect, saying “And breaths were gathering firm for that last onset…” (Dickinson 1485). She spoke of finalizing her affairs and possessions as well. All was going rather typically in that room.
