15+ Must-Read Poems about Afterlife

(15 to start, 150+ to explore)

Poetry that contemplates the afterlife, or what happens after one passes away, is incredibly common in the history of verse writing. Poems on this subject originate from every culture on Earth and vary depending on the writer’s cultural beliefs, religion, and poetic intentions.

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The best-known poems about the afterlife use memorable images and recognizable allusions. They tap into readers’ interest in understanding death and coming to terms with losses they may have suffered in their own lives. Poets as different as William Shakespeare and Sara Teasdale have written poems about the afterlife and what they feel is waiting for them after death in one moment or the next.

Some afterlife poems ask readers to look at death as something peaceful or an escape from the struggles and stresses of the real world. Others mourn the end of life and acknowledge death as nothing more than the end of one’s existence, challenging religious depictions of life after death.

No matter one’s personal beliefs, there is an afterlife poem that aligns with and perfectly challenges their understanding of what happens after one passes away.

Poems about Afterlife Visual Representation

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Because I could not stop for Death

by Emily Dickinson

‘Because I could not stop for death,’ Dickinson’s best-known poem, is a depiction of one speaker’s journey into the afterlife with personified “Death” leading the way.

The concept of the afterlife is explored in this poem as the speaker is taken on a carriage ride toward eternity. Dickinson's contemplation of the afterlife reflects her interest in spirituality and the mysteries of existence, inviting readers to consider the possibility of life beyond death.

Because I could not stop for Death –

He kindly stopped for me –

The Carriage held but just Ourselves –

And Immortality.

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Death, be not Proud (Holy Sonnet 10)

by John Donne

Donne’s ‘Death, be not proud,’ rooted in the Christian idea of the afterlife, challenges the personified death, exposing its illusory power.

The idea of an afterlife is fundamental to the speaker's challenge to death as it makes the human soul immortal. He describes death as a mere sleep leading to an eternal afterlife: 'One short sleep past, we wake eternally, / And death shall be no more.' This belief nullifies death's power, rendering humans immortal. Further, he says, 'From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, / Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,' portraying sleep and rest as death's images, declaring death to be more pleasurable than these because it leads to the afterlife, which is considered a higher realm delivering soul to eternal rest and relief.

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;

For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

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The Choir Invisible

by George Eliot

‘The Choir Invisible’ by George Eliot describes the hopes a speaker has for the afterlife and the impact her memory might have on those still living.

The poem offers one of the most thought-provoking treatments of the afterlife, redefining it as the enduring influence one has on the world rather than a supernatural existence. Eliot’s secular interpretation challenges traditional notions and provides a profound alternative, making it an exceptional exploration of this topic.

O May I join the choir invisible

Of those immortal dead who live again

In minds made better by their presence: live

In pulses stirr'd to generosity,

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They are all Gone into the World of Light

by Henry Vaughan

‘They are all Gone into the World of Light’ by Henry Vaughan describes a speaker’s longing to understand what death is and where his loved ones have gone.

The concept of afterlife is pivotal to the poem's exploration of death and spirituality. Vaughan presents a hopeful vision of existence beyond mortality, depicting it as a realm of light and glory. His portrayal balances Christian doctrine with personal longing, offering readers a comforting yet thought-provoking perspective on what lies beyond.

They are all gone into the world of light!

And I alone sit ling’ring here;

Their very memory is fair and bright,

And my sad thoughts doth clear.

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Without

by Joy Harjo

‘Without’ by Joy Harjo is a moving poem that explores everything from death to the dualities of human nature.

Joy Harjo's poem hinges on curiosity over the effect or lack thereof that our absence might have on the world. In wondering this, the speaker inevitably explores their vision of the afterlife, a place that is defined by its distance from the world. This space is afforded by the afterlife is what the speaker hopes will afford a better understanding of life's joys and woes.

The world will keep trudging through time without us

When we lift from the story contest to fly home

We will be as falling stars to those watching from the edge

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When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

by David Romano

Romano’s ‘When Tomorrow Starts Without Me’ offers solace in grief, exploring love and afterlife, reassures that loved ones remain forever.

The poem offers a peaceful vision of the afterlife, where angels guide the narrator to heaven and God welcomes them with open arms. It’s portrayed as a continuation of love and connection, rather than an end. This comforting depiction reassures readers, helping them see death as a journey into an eternal, harmonious existence filled with divine care and peace.

When tomorrow starts without me

And I’m not here to see

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me

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Sonnet 43: How do I love thee?

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

In ‘Sonnet 43’, or ‘How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways’ the speaker is proclaiming her unending passion for her beloved.

Browning’s contemplation of death reflects her view of love as eternal. She sees her commitment continuing beyond earthly bounds, a vision in line with Victorian beliefs about the soul’s immortality. Her pledge to “love… better after death” signifies love’s unbreakable strength, suggesting that devotion is one of the few forces that transcend life.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

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Amor Mundi

by Christina Rossetti

‘Amor Mundi’ by Christina Rossetti is a poem about how easy it is to get trapped in a cycle of sin and find oneself on a path toward hell.

This poem is about where one's soul ends up in the afterlife. For Rossetti, there were only two choices: go to heaven or go to hell. In this poem, she paints an image of this black-and-white choice by using an extended metaphor.

“Oh where are you going with your love-locks flowing

On the west wind blowing along this valley track?”

“The downhill path is easy, come with me an it please ye,

We shall escape the uphill by never turning back.”

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The River

by Caroline Anne Bowles

‘The River’ is a lively and joyous poem in which the speaker celebrates the power of a river and its journey towards the ocean.

The poem addresses the concept of the afterlife through the river’s final plunge into the sea. The sea symbolizes eternity and the unknown, suggesting a transition from temporal life to an eternal existence, thus exploring ideas about what lies beyond death.

River! river! little river!

Bright you sparkle on your way;

O'er the yellow pebbles dancing,

Through the flowers and foliage glancing,

#10

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I died for beauty but was scarce

by Emily Dickinson

‘I died for beauty but was scarce’ by Emily Dickinson reflects her fascination for death and the possible life to follow.

The poem takes place in the afterlife. It's there that the characters are discussing what they died for.

I died for Beauty - but was scarce

Adjusted in the Tomb

When One who died for Truth, was lain

In an adjoining Room -

#11

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I heard a Fly buzz – when I died

by Emily Dickinson

‘I heard a Fly Buzz – when I died’ by Emily Dickinson is an unforgettable depiction of the moments before death. The speaker emphasizes the stillness of the room and the movements of a single fly.

This poem alludes to the afterlife as the speaker nears the end of her life on earth.

I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -

The Stillness in the Room

Was like the Stillness in the Air -

Between the Heaves of Storm -

#12

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A Dream within a Dream

by Edgar Allan Poe

Published in 1849, ‘A Dream Within a Dream’ by Edgar Allan Poe examines the subtleties of time and perspective.

The poem suggests that life is transient and dream-like, implying that our current existence is only a temporary state. It hints at the afterlife as a more enduring reality, where true permanence and continuity lie beyond our earthly experiences.⬤

Take this kiss upon the brow!

And, in parting from you now,

Thus much let me avow —

You are not wrong, who deem

That my days have been a dream;

#13

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Crossing the Bar

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

‘Crossing the Bar’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson presents the journey from life into death as if calmly advancing into a new phase.

The poem addresses the concept of the afterlife by depicting death as a peaceful transition. The idea of "crossing the bar" symbolizes crossing into another realm, with the "Pilot" representing a divine guide. This vision suggests a journey toward an afterlife filled with hope, faith, and calm acceptance, offering reassurance about what lies beyond life.

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

#14

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Is My Team Ploughing

by A. E. Housman

‘Is My Team Ploughing’ by A.E. Housman is an excellent work tapping into the emotion of someone’s passing away and telling that life is like a river.

The afterlife in 'Is My Team Ploughing' shapes the central theme, allowing the speaker to inquire about life's continuity after death. It contributes a profound layer, portraying the speaker's awareness of his transformed existence and emphasizing the enduring connection between the living and the deceased.

Yes, lad, I lie easy,

I lie as lads would choose;

I cheer a dead man's sweetheart,

#15

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Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave

by Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy’s ‘Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?’ is a darkly ironic ballad that explores death, the illusion of eternal remembrance.

The afterlife presented in the poem is bleak. It is not a place of connection. One finds only isolation and disillusionment. The absurdity of the dead speaker retaining consciousness and a desire for remembrance after death, mirroring our own hopes, amplifies the emotional distance between the dead and the living. The term "afterlife" is a misnomer; it is a space barren of meaning, and earthly bonds do not endure into the beyond. As such, Hardy extracts the romanticism from death, stripping it of its religious comforts and forces the reader to confront the reality of death.

"Ah, are you digging on my grave,

My loved one? — planting rue?" —

"No: yesterday he went to wed

One of the brightest wealth has bred..."

Home » Collection » Poems about Afterlife

15+ Must-Read Poems about Afterlife

(15 to start, 150+ to explore)

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15+ Must-Read Poems about Afterlife

(15 to start, 150+ to explore)

by Emily Dickinson

by John Donne

by George Eliot

by Henry Vaughan

by Joy Harjo

by David Romano

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

by Christina Rossetti

by Caroline Anne Bowles

by Emily Dickinson

by Emily Dickinson

by Edgar Allan Poe

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

by A. E. Housman

by Thomas Hardy

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