Island on Fire

An original horror poem.

Photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash

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Fictional conceptions of the underworld owe much to Dante’s Divine Comedy. His medieval poem chronicling his journey through the afterlife creates vivid and disturbing imagery as Dante tours the various circles of hell, purgatory, and heaven.

I drew some inspiration from the inferno section of Dante’s tour in composing this poem. Enjoy this poetic dip into a nightmare realm.

Here tormented souls lie 
at the door of death's sanctuary.

Under skies painted a vivid orange red
threaded with billowing ash.
Hellfire mingling with heaven's clouds.

Voices piercing stifling darkness
trapped amid flames from scorched shells
made from concrete and iron.

Primal screams.
Unfettered chaos.
Anguish in the streets,
Popping and whistles
coming from all sides.
Until the outside world ceases.

A fiery island alone remains.
Death becomes all who seek escape.