Poverty Line

I suspect what most people know of Dickinson is that her poetic genius was discovered after her death.  Of course, it is true that the public only became aware of her brilliance posthumously – “due to Lavinia’s fervor and Todd’s diligence” (from “Emily Dickinson: The Unorthodox Epistolary Writer” by Efrosyni Manda); however, her family, her circle of friends, and even a few others outside of those two close groups recognized her talents.  As a matter of fact, in her second letter to Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Dickinson wrote this: 

“Two Editors of Journals came to my Father's House, this winter- and asked me for my Mind-and when I asked them ‘Why,’ they said I was penurious - and they, would use it for the World"

Hmm…I wonder who those editors were?  The complete letter to Higginson is HERE. 

Somehow word had circulated of Dickinson’s talent – and perhaps even some of her works? – for “Two Editors of Journals” to have shown up at her door.  Interestingly, this letter was written in April 1862, and at that time when just five of the ten poems published in her lifetime had been published – and all anonymously (info HERE).   As a matter of fact, one of the first five printed pieces was published in March of 1862 – so perhaps only four were out there in the public when Dickinson wrote the letter.   Still, somehow word got out. 
 
Another interesting point:  Shortly after the visit from the editors and Dickinson wrote those lines to Higginson – circa 1863 – she composed “Publication – is the Auction.”  Compare that first stanza to her message to Higginson.  It’s also a bit intriguing that the second stanza begins with “Possibly.”