Emily Dickinson wrote almost 2,000 poems but only published 10 during her lifetime. She found fame posthumously, when her family uncovered her works, and since then, her fame skyrocketed. Dickinson’s poetry makes its own rules, using nonstandard capitalization, slant rhyme, short lines and more.
National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Oliver is one of the widest-read poets in America, once being named the country’s bestselling poet. Her poems center nature, and she wrote them in plain language accessible to all levels of readers.
Transcendentalist poet Walt Whitman, often called the father of free verse, was one of the most influential American writers. He was controversial in his day, with many in the 19th century uncomfortable with what they called the “obscene” sensuality of Leaves of Grass, his poetry masterwork.
He’s been referred to as the world’s best-known poet. His most famous quotes include, “Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you,” and “What you seek is seeking you."
Sylvia Plath published only one volume of poetry in her lifetime, yet she’s one of the most famous American poets.
Federico García Lorca belonged to the iconic Generation of ‘27, a group of Spaniards who incorporated symbolism and futurism into their work.