American poet Emily Dickinson was born in Massachusetts in 1830. Though fewer than a dozen of her poems were published in her lifetime, she wrote nearly 1800 poems which have since been recognized as some of the most important American poetry that has been written.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.