Writings of a Simple Poet by E.M. Makins

Īlthough Dickinson's acquaintances were most likely aware of her writing, it was not until after her death in 1886-when Lavinia, Dickinson's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems-that her work became public. Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends, and also explore aesthetics, society, nature, and spirituality.

Her poems were unique for her era they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation. The poems published then were usually edited significantly to fit conventional poetic rules. While Dickinson was a prolific writer, her only publications during her lifetime were 10 of her nearly 1,800 poems, and one letter. Dickinson never married, and most friendships between her and others depended entirely upon correspondence. Considered an eccentric by locals, she developed a penchant for white clothing and was known for her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even to leave her bedroom. After studying at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she briefly attended the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's home in Amherst.Įvidence suggests that Dickinson lived much of her life in isolation.

ĭickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, into a prominent family with strong ties to its community. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry. Daguerreotype taken at Mount Holyoke, December 1846 or early 1847 the only authenticated portrait of Dickinson after early childhood Įmily Elizabeth Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet.

Writings of a Simple Poet by E.M. Makins