One of the literature textbooks I used the first years I taught, in the early ’70s, described Emily Dickinson as America’s greatest woman poet.
I’m ashamed to say I had to take a course in literature written by women (with a stroll through The Second Sex) before I realized the idiocy of that statement.
Emily Dickinson is America’s greatest poet.
Period.
Kathy Waller 
My first laugh for the morning. I know your blog wasn’t written to be humorous, but you said so much in so few words that so clearly described the moment that a woman finally opens her eyes to her own beauty and strength that I couldn’t help myself. It was laughter of joy to learn that yet another women was seeing the world through female eyes, and not the males who wrote all the history books. .
Keep writing Kathy
Pat Bean
http://patbean.wordpress.com
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It’s fine to laugh. I’m laughing, too. I don’t know why it took me so long to hear what that sentence really said. I can accept argument about “greatest,” but “woman”–good grief.
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Emily is who inspired me as a child and who continues to inspire
the forever child inside me…
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I knew only two of her poems. Then came my college class in American lit., and bang! It was like experiencing Emily’s own definition of poetry.
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Still not caught up with Emily. Such an omission, I realise. I’m off to read her properly now.
Thanks Kathy.
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Emily’s poems are so small they’re easy to miss. But she did have a way with words.
You’re welcome, Kate. I’m so glad you’re writing again.
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