--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Going to heaven! I don't know when, Pray…" description: "\"“Going to heaven! I don't know when, Pray do not ask me how, — Indeed, I 'm too astonished To think of answering you! Going to heaven! — How dim it sou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_going-to-heaven-i-don-t-know-when-pray-d_1511059.jpg" --- # Going to heaven! I don't know when, Pray do not ask me… ![“Going to heaven! I don't know when, Pray do not ask me how, — Indeed, I 'm too astonished To think of answering you! Going to heaven! — How dim it sounds! And yet it will be done As sure as flocks go home at night Unto the shepherd's arm! Perhaps you 're going too! Who knows? If you should get…” quote by Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_going-to-heaven-i-don-t-know-when-pray-d_1511059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_going-to-heaven-i-don-t-know-when-pray-d_1511059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_going-to-heaven-i-don-t-know-when-pray-d_1511059.jpg) > ““Going to heaven! I don't know when, Pray do not ask me how, — Indeed, I 'm too astonished To think of answering you! Going to heaven! — How dim it sounds! And yet it will be done As sure as flocks go home at night Unto the shepherd's arm! Perhaps you 're going too! Who knows? If you should get there first, Save just a little place for me Close to the two I lost! The smallest "robe" will fit me, And just a bit of "crown;" For you know we do not mind our dress When we are going home. I 'm glad I don't believe it, For it would stop my breath, And I 'd like to look a little more At such a curious earth! I am glad they did believe it Whom I have never found Since the mighty autumn afternoon I left them in the ground.”” [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem juxtaposes awe of an afterlife with earthly longing, expressing both wonder and doubt. **In simple terms:** Hope and uncertainty about death and reunion. Key Takeaway Embrace mystery while cherishing present connections. Themes mortality faith longing Mood melancholy contemplative Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - spiritual contemplation - creative writing Key Concepts existentialism spirituality poetry Questions to Reflect On - What comforts you about the unknown? - How do you balance hope and skepticism? A Different Perspective The imagery may be too obscure for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emily-dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emily-dickinson-2/) [Going home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-home/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) ## Related quotes > [“At least to pray is left, is left. 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The little toil of love, I thought, Was large enough for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-had-no-time-to-hate-because-the-grave-would-hinder-me-the-little/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Sweet hour, blessed hour, to carry me to you, and to bring you back to me, long enough to snatch one kiss, and whisper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/sweet-hour-blessed-hour-to-carry-me-to-you-and-to-bring-you-back-to/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Oh Susie, I often think that I will try to tell you how very dear you are, and how I'm watching for you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/oh-susie-i-often-think-that-i-will-try-to-tell-you-how-very-dear-you/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Her breast is fit for pearls, But I was not a "Diver" - Her brow is fit for thrones But I have not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/her-breast-is-fit-for-pearls-but-i-was-not-a-diver-her-brow-is-fit/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## More by Emily Dickinson > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I could not prove the Years had feet-/Yet confident they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-could-not-prove-the-years-had-feet-yet-confident-they-run/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [How softly summer shuts, without the creaking of a door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/how-softly-summer-shuts-without-the-creaking-of-a-door/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Could you tell me how to grow--or is it unconveyed--like Melody--or Witchcraft?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/could-you-tell-me-how-to-grow-or-is-it-unconveyed-like-melody-or/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Inebriate of Air — am I — And Debauchee of Dew — Reeling — thro endless summer days — From Inns of Molten Blue —”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/inebriate-of-air-am-i-and-debauchee-of-dew-reeling-thro-endless/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/luck-is-not-chance-it-s-toil-fortune-s-expensive-smile-is-earned/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [The abdication of Belief Makes the Behavior small- Better an ignis fatuus Than no illume at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-abdication-of-belief-makes-the-behavior-small-better-an-ignis/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Longing is like a seed that wrestles in the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/longing-is-like-a-seed-that-wrestles-in-the-ground/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“He ate and drank the precious words, His spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, Nor that his frame was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/he-ate-and-drank-the-precious-words-his-spirit-grew-robust-he-knew-no/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I SEE thee better in the dark, I do not need a light. 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I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-see-thee-better-in-the-dark-i-do-not-need-a-light-the-love-of-thee/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/one-step-at-a-time-is-all-it-takes-to-get-you-there/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Whose fingers string the stalactite- Who counts the Wampum of the night”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/whose-fingers-string-the-stalactite-who-counts-the-wampum-of-the-night/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [My life closed twice before its close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/my-life-closed-twice-before-its-close/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Until you have loved, you cannot become yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/until-you-have-loved-you-cannot-become-yourself/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) [Explore all 692 Emily Dickinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## More Emily-dickinson quotes > [“At least to pray is left, is left. 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To find that phosphorescence, that light within — is the genius behind poetry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-luce/oh-phosphorescence-now-there-s-a-word-to-lift-your-hat-to-to-find/) William Luce > [“Sweet hour, blessed hour, to carry me to you, and to bring you back to me, long enough to snatch one kiss, and whisper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/sweet-hour-blessed-hour-to-carry-me-to-you-and-to-bring-you-back-to/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“All she needs is to lay down a few sentences, sometimes just a few words, on paper to feel soothed, for a moment delivered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-fortier/all-she-needs-is-to-lay-down-a-few-sentences-sometimes-just-a-few/) Dominique Fortier > [“I had no time to hate, because The grave would hinder me, . . . The little toil of love, I thought, Was large enough for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-had-no-time-to-hate-because-the-grave-would-hinder-me-the-little/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“History doesn’t start with a tall building and a card with your name written on it, but jokes do. I think someone is taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-reese-maher/history-doesn-t-start-with-a-tall-building-and-a-card-with-your-name/) [Nathan Reese Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-reese-maher/) > [“Taking Off Emily Dickinson’s Clothes" First, her tippet made of tulle, easily lifted off her shoulders and laid on the back of a wooden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/taking-off-emily-dickinson-s-clothes-first-her-tippet-made-of-tulle/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [“The longer you live, the harder it becomes. To grab them. Each little moment as it arrives. 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In heaven Emily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-ostrom/they-call-each-other-e-elvis-picks-wildflowers-near-the-river-and/) Hans Ostrom [Browse all 41 Emily-dickinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emily-dickinson-2/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Going to heaven! I don't know when, Pray do not ask me how, — Indeed, I 'm too astonished To think of answering you! Going to heaven! — How dim it sounds! And yet it will be done As sure as flocks go home at night Unto the shepherd's arm! Perhaps you 're going too! Who knows? If you should get there first, Save just a little place for me Close to the two I lost! The smallest \"robe\" will fit me, And just a bit of \"crown;\" For you know we do not mind our dress When we are going home. I 'm glad I don't believe it, For it would stop my breath, And I 'd like to look a little more At such a curious earth! 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