Emily Dickinson hid most of her poetry during her lifetime, writing nearly 1,800 poems but sharing only a few. She kept her work in drawers and small handmade booklets, known as fascicles, and rarely showed them to anyone, likely fearing her unconventional style—marked by dashes, slant rhymes, and irregular punctuation—would be misunderstood. 

After her death in 1886, her sister Lavinia discovered the hidden poems and worked to have them published, ensuring Emily’s genius didn’t remain a secret. Her poems weren't fully restored to their original form until 1955.

The Reclusive Poet

Emily Dickinson was famously reclusive, especially in her later years. She spent much of her life in her family’s home in Amherst, Massachusetts, and by her thirties, she rarely left the house. She even started refusing face-to-face visits, often speaking to visitors from behind a door. Yet, despite her physical isolation, her poetry explored the depths of human emotion and the mysteries of life.

Dressed in White

Dickinson had an eccentric habit of wearing white almost exclusively, which added to her enigmatic persona. The white dress became a symbol of her purity, simplicity, and possibly her desire to distance herself from the chaotic world outside. Some also speculate it reflected her connection to nature and spiritual transcendence, themes that often appeared in her poems.

Wrote Nearly 1,800 Poems (But Published Only a Handful)

Emily Dickinson was incredibly prolific, writing nearly 1,800 poems throughout her life. However, she published fewer than a dozen during her lifetime, and most of those were heavily edited by publishers. Her style was so unconventional—full of dashes, unique punctuation, and slant rhymes—that it didn’t fit the literary norms of the time. Dickinson became widely recognized only after her death when her poems were published in their original form.

Loved Nature and Her Garden

Dickinson found inspiration in nature, and her family’s home had a beautiful garden, which she tended to passionately. Many of her poems reflect a deep connection to the natural world—birds, bees, flowers, and the changing seasons are recurring motifs in her work. She once called nature “a haunt of the soul.”

A Master of the Dash

One of the most distinctive features of Dickinson’s poetry is her liberal use of dashes. She used them to create pauses, emphasis, and ambiguity, allowing readers to interpret her poems in multiple ways. While unconventional at the time, her use of dashes has become a defining feature of her style, adding to her poems’ mysterious and open-ended nature.

Fascinated by Death

Dickinson was obsessed with the theme of death, which appears frequently in her poetry. She explored it with curiosity and introspection, often contemplating its inevitability and mystery. One of her most famous poems, Because I could not stop for Death, personifies death as a polite suitor, giving a haunting yet peaceful view of mortality.

Famous Love Letters (to an Unknown Beloved)

Dickinson wrote many intimate letters, some of which scholars believe were addressed to a mysterious “Master”, whose identity has never been confirmed. These letters were emotional, romantic, and deeply personal, fueling speculation about Dickinson’s love life. The true identity of “Master” remains one of the great mysteries of Dickinson’s life.

A Secret Baker

In addition to her poetry, Dickinson had a hidden talent—she was a baker! She was known to make delicious bread and gingerbread for her family and neighbors, sometimes even lowering baskets of baked goods from her window to children outside. It’s a charming contrast to her reclusive nature—she connected with the world through her poetry and her baking.

Rebel Against Punctuation Rules

Emily Dickinson’s poetry often ignored conventional rules of punctuation and grammar. She loved to experiment with language, which made her work unconventional in her time but revolutionary today. Her unique use of capitalization, enjambment, and punctuation allows readers to feel the rhythm and flow of her thoughts in a more intimate and direct way.

Posthumous Fame

Dickinson’s true literary fame only came after her death. After she passed away in 1886, her sister Lavinia discovered hundreds of poems hidden in drawers and notebooks around the house. Lavinia made it her mission to have the poems published, and thanks to her, Dickinson’s genius was revealed to the world. Today, Dickinson is considered one of the greatest American poets.