The Road to Hell
An old one resurrected.
If Dante had been born
a few centuries later
and gone to Vienna,
his footsteps would have led him
to Berggasse 19
where the good doctor
would have sorted him out.
All problems are linked to libido,
Sigmund Freud would have said.
“Let’s explore your dream,
it is easily explained.
You find yourself in a tenebrous place
having totally lost your way.
You have carried the torch
for Beatrice Portinari;
you have been wanting to bed her
since she was twelve.
The dark mass that you’re in
is the fur of her ‘mons veneris’.
You are ashamed of your sin
so you say that you’ve gone astray.
The memory haunts you
and you roam the Florentine streets
in the hope of catching a glimpse
as you embark on the road to Hell.
Did she ever hint that she might
accede to your amorous advances?
Isn’t ‘ yes’ the answer you hanker for?
What a blow then to hear that her father
has arranged for her to be married
to a young and prosperous banker.”
© Luigi Pagano 2015
Nice one, Luigi. Saves me reading The Inferno. I’ve still got Proust to finish and all the novels of Balzac.
Gerald
Thanks, Gerald.
I read the Inferno in the original language. (Being Italian that was no hardship.)
I gather that you are quite a linguist so tackling the works of Proust and Balzac should not present you with any difficulty.
Good reading and best wishes.
Luigi
Liked this a lot Luigi, great stuff.
Mike
Cheers, Mike. You are always very supportive and I thank you for it.
Full of “What if” ‘wonderingness.’ Analysing this poem could not only lead to self understanding but give me a classical education to boot! Loved it Luigi very cleverly written.
You have hit the nail on the head, Tony. “What if” was just the thought that occurred to me and led to the speculation around which the poem was constructed.
Thanks for your kind appraisal.
Luigi
Intriguing idea well.extrapolated. Love speculative poetry.
I am glad that you like this effort of mine, Paulloz, and thanks for giving me your opinion.
Best wishes, Luigi