The Dead
‘‘The Dead’’ (1983), by the American poet Susan
Mitchell, is a descriptionof an episode in the exis-
tence of people who have died on earth but who
continue to maintain their ties with loved ones who
are still alive. Thematically, the poem recalls the
classic work of literature,Inferno, by the Italian
poet Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), a section of
which Mitchell has translated (Versions of the
Inferno, edited by Daniel Halpern, Ecco Press,
1993).
Mitchell has gained a significant reputation as
a poet, though public recognition of her work, as
of 2009, was limited. She is known for her intro-
spection and interest in self-discovery, her freely
meandering style, her eclectic range of influences,
and her spiritual and esoteric subject matter. ‘‘The
Dead’’ is typical of Mitchell’s work in its mystical
theme.
‘‘The Dead,’’ appeared in Mitchell’s first col-
lection of verse,The Water Inside the Water(Wes-
leyan University Press). It is also available in the
HarperPerennial edition ofThe Water Inside the
Water(1994). It is frequently anthologized and
studied in schools and colleges.Author Biography
Susan Mitchell grew up in New York City, where
she was born in 1944. She was educated at Well-
esley College, Massachusetts, where she gained a68
SUSAN MITCHELL
1983