Emily Dickinson to Susan Gilbert

‘…Susie, forgive me Darling, for every word I say – my heart is full of you,
none other than you is in my thoughts, yet when I seek to say to you
something not for the world, words fail me. If you were here – and Oh that you
were, my Susie, we need not take at all, our eyes would whisper for us, and
your hand fast in mine…’

Poet Emily Dickinson was lifelong friends with Susan Huntington Gilbert.
Many of these passionate letters were written when they were in their early
20s; unfortunately, only Emily’s side survive, so it’s not known how Susan
responded. Therefore, it is not certain if these were love letters in the
traditional sense or even if the feelings were reciprocated. Researchers,
however, do believe it was love even though Susan eventually became
Emily’s sister-in-law and neighbor.