Emily Dickinson was a poet born in Amherst, Massachusetts on Dec. 10th, 1830. She is considered to be one of the most gifted poets in American Literature. Dickinson never married, and after she reached over the age of 30, she seldom saw anyone outside of her immediate family. Much about her life is unknown because of this reason. People feel that Dickinson chose to remain in her own home and be in "her own society" rather than have to deal with the narrow-minded outside society.

Dickinson is considered to be a "support person", or one who never tires from examining the beauties of existence. Hidden away from the world in the second story of her parents' house, she analyzed almost every aspect of nature. When the Civil War took place, Dickinson began producing some of her best poetry. She died in 1886. Dickinson wrote approximately 1,800 poems, however only 8 were published within her lifetime with her permission. Scholars believe that Dickinson didn't necessarily want all of her poems to be published. Dickinson's poems have a tendency to begin with a strong story line, and then eventually fade away into silence. One example of this is in her poem 'Because I could not stop for Death'. There is a strong sense of rhythm, along with less noticeable rhymes.

'Because I could not stop for Death'

Because I could not stop for Death-
He kindly stopped for me-
The Carriage held but just Ourselves
And immortality.

We slowly drove-He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and leisure too,
For His Civility-

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess-in the Ring-
We passed the Fields of Grazing Grain-
We passed the Setting Sun-

Or rather-He passed Us-
The Dew drew quivering and chill-
For only Gossamer, my Gown-
My Tippet-only Tulle-

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground-
The Roof was scarcely visible-
The Cornice-in the Ground-

Since then-'tis Centuries-and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were towards Eternity-