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 -

 

The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -

And Breaths were gathering firm

For that last Onset - when the King

Be witnessed - in the Room -

 

I willed my Keepsakes - Signed away

What portion of me be

Assignable - and then it was

There interposed a Fly -

 

With Blue - uncertain stumbling Buzz -

Between the light - and me -

And then the Windows failed - and then

I could not see to see -

 

 

The people all finished crying, stand in the quiet room preparing for her closing moments, when it is assumed that she will see the God (King) to lead her to the journey of eternal life. The hush in the room encompasses everyone and everything, including even the air that fills the room. As per deathbed tradition, she wills away her material possessions, although distracted by the idea that not all of hers is assignable - presumptively, this not assignable part being her spirit or soul. She also might want to imply the hope of leaving something significant behind, not just physical things. It is worth noticing that the fly is the last thing she sees and hears alive, which buzzes as death is approaching. Then the fly blinds her vision by light until the eyes are shut into complete darkness, windows being a metaphor for eyes. Serving as a symbolic earthly inhabitant, it both solaces and advises her about death and the appreciation for life. Blue is a tranquil and soothing color for her to feel comforted before losing consciousness. The uncertain characteristic could be representative of her own unsure feelings towards death. The stumbling aspect alludes to a movement that is lacking in elegance or attractiveness. The buzzing sound might stand for the hold that the living world has on her at those last surviving moments. By choosing this creature, Emily depicts the beauty in every living thing: even the galling fly (reminds us of the most corporeal aspects of death: the rotting and decomposition of a corpse) has a function and a place on earth and in life.