Poetry is best honoured when dead.

There's a Netflix series called "Dickinson". The main Character is a poet named Emily Dickinson who is, in many ways, surviving in her head. Poetry was quite literally her life.

If you've watched the show, you'd think that my major discourse would be on the topic of her sexuality.

I consider that to be an overexaggeration of the situation. Emily Dickinson was a character far more than a sexual orientation.

I think the strangest thing is that if Emily had not died, much of her poetry would never come to light much less be celebrated. It is even debatable whether Emily wanted her Poetry to receive the attention it does in the literary world today.

Emily was born into one of the most respected and well-to-do families in Massachusetts. She had a good education and was never starved for academic discovery. The most curious thing about Emily however was that as she grew older, she became more and more recluse. You could not even call Emily a Rebel, she was always home. It is said that people in the town called her "A myth."

The most rebellious thing Emily ever did was her style of Poetry where she disregarded the more traditional styles of rhyme and rhythm. She was expressive with her wild rhythms and elaborate use of dashes. And for all of such non-conforming expression of creativity, only 10 poems were ever published between 1850-1866- all of the poems were anonymous.

Emily had a penchant for the colour white, and that was what she wore most of the time. The picture this tempts to draw in your mind is a docile, quiet girl.

However, Emily was very strong willed. For example, her mentor had lamented at her non-pursuit of fame and advised her to regularise her rhythms. She did not.

When Austin, her brother, had become scandalised in adultery against Emily's friend, vivid poem reader and Sister-in-law, Susan, she stood with Susan and vehemently refused to sign off a portion of the land under her control to the Mistress.

We cannot say that we fully understand Emily's actions- She died before we knew how big those actions were but we will respect her poetry.

Unfortunately, we also do not know whether we are disrespecting Emily by reading her poems. How private did she want them to be? If not for her Sister, Livinia, who brought them out to light, we would never ever know.

And what is worse, the copyrights for her poem are still being debated.

Whatever it is, please enjoy Emily's poem about losing a loved one:

I should not dare to leave my friend,

Because—because if he should die

While I was gone—and I—too late—

Should reach the Heart that wanted me—

If I should disappoint the eyes

That hunted—hunted so—to see—

And could not bear to shut until

They "noticed" me—they noticed me—

If I should stab the patient faith

So sure I'd come—so sure I'd come—

It listening—listening—went to sleep—

Telling my tardy name—

My Heart would wish it broke before—

Since breaking then—since breaking then—

Were useless as next morning's sun—

Where midnight frosts—had lain!