Emily Dickinson's quote suggests that nature is inherently filled with mystery and evokes a sense of haunting due to its unpredictable and sometimes eerie beauty. Nature, with its vast landscapes and cycles of life and death, creates an atmosphere that often feels alive with spirits and stories untold. It embodies the essence of the unknown, where every corner can hold a surprise or a shadow of the past. This makes nature itself feel like a place where past events linger, almost as if it holds memories of those who have walked through it.

In contrast, Dickinson contrasts this with art, which she describes as a "house that tries to be haunted." This indicates that while art seeks to capture those elusive feelings and mysteries of nature, it is ultimately a creation of human design, crafted deliberately to evoke emotional responses. Art aims to replicate the allure and depth of natural experiences, striving to resonate with the viewer's feelings and imagination, yet it remains a construct, lacking the spontaneity and rawness of nature's true haunting essence.