Yes, it is. Both segments of the sentence before and after the semicolon can stand on their own therefore they are independent clauses. Most times, a semicolon is used to join two independent clauses that are related.
I think its affect is when <span>The persona of Dickinson's poem meets </span>personified Death<span>. Death is a gentleman caller who takes a leisurely carriage ride with the speaker to her grave.</span>
