#7: Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson is a true luminary in the world of American poetry. Born on December 10, 1830, her life remains shrouded in mystery, adding an air of intrigue to her already remarkable legacy. Despite our limited knowledge of her, she is one of the most profound and influential figures in American literary history.

Remarkably, of the roughly 1,800 poems Emily Dickinson penned, only 10 saw the light of day during her lifetime. Her poetic creations were hymns and ballads, characterized by lines bearing three or four rhythmic stresses. What truly sets her apart, however, is her fearless disregard for conventional rules of verse and grammar, coupled with an intellectual audacity that dared to defy the norm.