Yesterday’s post focused on Dickinson’s interest in geology, and I shared her poem ‘The reticent volcano keeps.”
Dickinson used the word “volcano” in five poems, and the word “volcanic” in two (one of which also used “volcano”); however, she also included volcanic imagery in other poems without using the words “volcano” or “volcanic.”
Dickinson used the word “volcano” in five poems, and the word “volcanic” in two (one of which also used “volcano”); however, she also included volcanic imagery in other poems without using the words “volcano” or “volcanic.”
| For example, in the poem “My life had stood – a loaded gun,” she has the lines, “And do I smile, such cordial light / Upon the Valley glow – / It is as a Vesuvian face / Had let its pleasure through –” and then she began another poem with “When Etna basks and purrs.” Today I have shared “A still – Volcano – Life,” one of several of Dickinson’s volcanic poems that scholars suggest (like yesterday’s poem) is a geological/metaphorical self-portrait of the poet. Interestingly, this poem also includes a second geological phenomenon, an earthquake. She also used the word “earthquake” in the poem “At least - to pray - is left - is left -” |  |
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