Emily Dickinson

The famous poet, Emily Dickinson had grown up in Amherst, like Helen. Both of them attended Amherst Academy when they were children. After the death of Helen's parents, and her move from Amherst, they lost touch with each other. They reconnected through their mutual friend, Higginson. As adults, they corresponded for many years and she encouraged Dickinson to publish her poetry (she even went as far as submitting the poem for Dickinson). Although Dickinson never left Amherst, through Helen's letters she traveled vicariously.

William Jackson received an unexpected message from Dickinson at the time of his wife's death:

Helen of Troy will die, but Helen of Colorado, never. 'Dear friend, can you walk' were the last words I wrote her--'Dear friend, I can fly'--her immortal reply. (Banning, p 225, 1973).