There are 28 poems. Wheatley published her first poem at the age of 11. She continued to write poetry until she was 21 years old. During this time, she also wrote essays on subjects such as slavery and racial inequality. These writings were widely praised by other poets and thinkers of their time. They helped inspire many people who fought for civil rights in America. After graduating from high school, she went to live with her father in London, where he worked as a customs officer. Here she met many famous people such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. This increased her knowledge of world history and made her feel part of a special community. In 1770, her father died, leaving her with no choice but to return home to America. When she got there, she learned that black people weren't allowed to be writers or have their work published. So she decided to write about her experiences in England instead. This way she could make an impact without being discovered as a writer. She died in 1784 at the age of 26. Today, she is considered one of the most important poets in American history.