Emily Dickinson was a wonderful inspiration to many female writers. One of the reasons why we, as humans, have a better understanding to the English language was because of the novel writers and the poets. And Emily Dickinson was probably, in my opinion, was the best poet in that day and age.

She was one of the first women to start doing what in most cultures, especially in those times, a man's job. Ms. Dickinson was not afraid to speak, or write, what was on her mind. She was proud of her intellect and showed it through her words. Her work was probably unusual to does that were not used to it. Her words and phrases were and still are set off by dashes, her stanzas were brief and Emily's longest poem only took up less than two printed pages. They were condensed. They were filled with emotion, her hopes and dreams. Emily Dickinson's poems were so expressive, filled with raw emotion and intelligent and insightful that it is no wonder that many writers, many women writers, look towards her work for ideas for their own work. They wish to be like her in her work and in her messages. I know I did.

I was inspired from her work the first time I have ever read her poetry in grade school. After that I started writing my essays and reports with more insight and a higher vocabulary. When I started high school, I purchased two little notebooks, one I was to write quotes from friends and famous people in, and the other I write all of my poetry in it. My name is Katherine Villafane, and yes, I am a writer and a poet. But most importantly, I'm a female writer and poet.

Though I was inspired to write, and to write similarly like Emily Dickinson, I realized that if I do that, Emily Dickinson's work would really be for nothing. She, like ever other writer or poet out there in the world, would want us to look at them and their work for guidance not to imitate them. If we do that than we never really find our own style of writing, our own distinctive why to express ourselves to others. We would have been just another them, a clone, a copy of the real artist. Many of the art and English teachers, thought different classes, teach you the same thing: (My own words) It is good to teach and learn of the techniques and styles of the famous writers and artist, but it is even better to learn your own way of doing things, your own way to show people how wonderfully different and unique you are.

Many young women in this day and age can find inspiration in the strangest or in the most common of places or beings. But Emily Dickinson was possibly one of the biggest female examples of this in the world. Her death was not in vain. Even if she probably didn't know that many women in the future would look up to her, I believe that she is proud that more people are speaking their minds and is not afraid to be who they are, even if they are not poets.

Emily Dickinson, Thank you for all of your wonderful and inspiring work. Now I know what many artists met when they say that art, in any shape or form, performing or visual, is hard to master but all the more worth while to try.

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