During her lifetime, only a few of Dickinson's poems were published, and those that were published were heavily edited to conform to conventional poetic styles of the time. However, after her death, her sister discovered hundreds of poems that Dickinson had written throughout her life, preserved in hand-stitched booklets.

Dickinson's poetry is characterized by its compressed language and powerful emotional depth. She is often hailed as one of the greatest American poets and has had a significant impact on the development of modern poetry. Her work explores universal themes and emotions, often using nature and everyday objects as metaphors for deeper truths.

Despite her reclusive nature, Dickinson maintained a rich correspondence with friends and family through letters, many of which incuded poems. These letters provide insight into Dickinson's inner world and creative process. She never married and spent the majority of her life living in her family home in Amherst.

Emily Dickinson's work was not widely recognized during her lifetime, but her poetry gradually gained appreciation in the years following her death. Today, she is regarded as one of the most important poets in American literature, and her work continues to be celebrated and studied by readers and scholars around the world.