I had no time to hate, because
The grave would hinder me,
And life was not so ample I
Could finish enmity.

 

Nor had I time to love; but since
Some industry must be,
The little toil of love, I thought,
Was large enough for me.

                   During the writing of this poem, Emily Dickinson is on her deathbed. She is near death when she starts to regret time she has spent pulling herself away from the world. She uses symbolism to represent obstacles in her life.
                   Since she senses her death is near, she ponders "I had no time to hate." Hatred can easily consume a person. Dickinson implies that she wishes she had time for enmity because her life "was not so ample." But she has no time for her emotions and so she states "the grave would hinder me."
                   In the second stanza of the poem, Dickinson expresses that she has not the time for love either when she suggests "Nor had I time to love." I am not convinced that Dickinson is looking for love, but that she is entertaned by it for a short period of time. I conclude my previous statement from the quote "some industry must be...was large enough for me." To me, this poem shows that Emily Dickinson was displeased by the life she lived.