Here's why:
* Geographical distance: Whitman lived primarily in Brooklyn, New York, and later Washington, D.C., while Dickinson lived her entire life in Amherst, Massachusetts. While not incredibly far apart, these were distinct communities, and it was a different era for travel.
* Different social circles: Whitman was a public figure, a journalist, and a celebrated poet, while Dickinson was a recluse who rarely ventured out. Their social circles were vastly different.
* Limited interaction: Dickinson was known to interact very little with the outside world and was primarily a letter writer. She published very few poems during her lifetime. Whitman, though a social figure, also didn't actively seek out other poets or writers in the same way we do today.
However:
While they might not have known each other personally, it's possible that:
* They were aware of each other's work. Dickinson likely read Whitman's poetry, and Whitman may have been aware of the few poems Dickinson published.
* They shared some common literary influences. Both poets were influenced by the Romantics and Transcendentalists, who were popular figures in the 19th century.
Overall:
The evidence points to Whitman and Dickinson living separate lives with minimal interaction, even though they were contemporaries writing in a similar time period.