Emily Dickinson wrote "A still—Volcano—Life—" around 1862, but it was first published in the 1929 collection Further Poems of Emily Dickinson. The poem describes a person with a "Still—Volcano—Life" and a "Quiet—Earthquake—Style": in other words, a person whose great power lies dormant, hidden, or simply ignored, like magma deep beneath the earth. Most critics agree that the poem is a self-portrait, juxtaposing Dickinson's quiet public-facing life with the seismic energy of her art.
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1A still—Volcano—Life—
2That flickered in the night—
3When it was dark enough to do
4Without erasing sight—
5A quiet—Earthquake Style—
6Too subtle to suspect
7By natures this side Naples—
8The North cannot detect
9The Solemn—Torrid—Symbol—
10The lips that never lie—
11Whose hissing Corals part—and shut—
12And Cities—ooze away—
1A still—Volcano—Life—
2That flickered in the night—
3When it was dark enough to do
4Without erasing sight—
5A quiet—Earthquake Style—
6Too subtle to suspect
7By natures this side Naples—
8The North cannot detect
9The Solemn—Torrid—Symbol—
10The lips that never lie—
11Whose hissing Corals part—and shut—
12And Cities—ooze away—
A still—Volcano—Life—
That flickered in the night—
When it was dark enough to do
Without erasing sight—
A quiet—Earthquake Style—
Too subtle to suspect
By natures this side Naples—
The North cannot detect
The Solemn—Torrid—Symbol—
The lips that never lie—
Whose hissing Corals part—and shut—
And Cities—ooze away—
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
The Dickinson Museum — Visit the website of the Emily Dickinson Museum to learn more about Dickinson's life and work.
Vesuvius at Home — Read poet Adrienne Rich's essay on the contrast between Dickinson's public and private (poetry-writing) life.
A Discussion of Dickinson — Listen to a BBC podcast in which scholars discuss Emily Dickinson's life and work.
The Poem in Manuscript — Take a look at Dickinson's handwritten draft of the poem.