Roberta Writes – d’Verse Monopoly with a Twist, a modernised re-write of Dante’s Inferno #poetry #d’Verse

Uncategorized 4 Minutes

Saana‘s challenge: The challenge is to write a poem inspired by the Poet and poem you have chosen. What emotions do they evoke in you?  

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/03/18/poetics-monopoly-with-a-twist/

***Announcement***  
Please join us at dVerse LIVE on Saturday, March 22, from 10 to 11 AM EST. Google meet link will be provided at d’Verse Open Link Night on Thursday.   

By way of context, I’ve had an idea in my head about writing a modernised version of Dante’s Inferno for some time. My idea is that it will speak to the Sixth Mass Extinction and global warming rather than politics and sins. Anyhow, when I saw Saana’s challenge I knew now was the time for me to make a start on this project. To this end, I bring you the first 60 lines of Canto 1 of my poetic saga as yet untitled.

If you don’t know Dante’s Inferno, he uses a rhyming scheme of A, B, A, B, C, D, E, F, E, F.

CANTO 1

I’d entered the middle part of life, my youth had fled

When I found myself in a desert, enduring brutal heat

The sun beat dreadfully upon my uncovered head

Sand burned harshly beneath my tender bare feet

How barren that desert was, parched and desolate

Terror gripped my heart and filled my mind

I was left wordless in the face of such grimness

Created by man’s endless selfishness and greed

I mourned Earth’s end in this horrifying starkness

From this burning inferno could I ever be freed                                                            10

***

How I arrived in this unfortunate place, an unknown

I’d always tried to fight for human and animal rights

For my love of flora and fauna I was quite renown

I intrinsically knew humanity had caused this blight

Yet, in the distance I could see a patch of dark green

Enticing me to wend my clumsy way in its direction

Slowly, I moved forward across the scorching sand

Verdant colours luring me with nature’s promise

Perhaps there was still hope for this empty land

Possibly I’d find a source of consolation and solace                                                      20

***

Blood dried in my veins; fluid leached from my eyes

I panted, an attempt to rid my body of excess heat

As the devil sun marched across the faded blue sky

The green haze remained, keeping me from defeat

Hope’s finger beckoning: inspiring and motivating

A pledge of fluid to sooth my sunbaked body

Bleached bones created hazardous obstacles

Hosting clumps of discoloured leather-like flesh                                                          

Defeated by devastating climate change battles

Was there any way wildlife could start afresh?                                                30

***

Ghostly outlines slowly took on solid shapes

Large rocks thrusting out from sandy cradles

A girl child appeared, gorging on fat, black grapes

Vanishing as I approached, like a myth or fable

This further disturbance of the natural world

Distressed my mind near to its snapping point

If there was another option, I’d have retreated

But lack of water had left me in a poor state

I could only go on, I was physically defeated

Shoulders straight, I walked towards my fate                                                   40

***

A quivering in my nose – water I could smell

Softening of the dry air, my lungs embraced

Sweet humidity filling each bronchial cell

Then, I saw a fearful sight, my pulse again raced

The white fur of a honey badger behind a bush

Toughest and most aggressive animal in the world

Staggering backward in horror, my gasp escaped

As not one, but two, creatures blocked my path

Pair of tiny cheetah cubs; I laughed at my mistake

Then mom appeared, would I face her wrath?                                                50

***

In a voice, unused to forming words, she spoke

“Here you are, at last. We’ve been waiting hours

There’s a sandstorm brewing. Hurry, or we’ll choke”

We set of at once towards a thick clump of flowers

Mom almost gliding, her five cubs bouncing after

My admiration had no limits for this fastest of cats

Also, the most endangered of the big cat population

What’s happening, I wondered, what does it all mean

The desert had indicated the world’s damnation

Was there a chance salvation could still intervene?                                        60

Unknown's avatar

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

87 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse Monopoly with a Twist, a modernised re-write of Dante’s Inferno #poetry #d’Verse”

  7. Wow! This was quite the undertaking. A grim portrait of a very probable reality. I laud you in your efforts. I know this took great patience and creativity to bring to fruition.

    Like

    Reply

  13. That is some project, Robbie, to write a modern ‘Inferno’, and bravo for getting started on it! I think you’re right to avoid politics and sins – there’s enough of that about.

    I like the use of colour in these lines:

    ‘As the devil sun marched across the faded blue sky
    The green haze remained, keeping me from defeat’

    and the way you describe the setting in these lines:

    ‘Ghostly outlines slowly took on solid shapes
    Large rocks thrusting out from sandy cradles’.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  29. This is absolutely brilliant, Robbie. We’ve two copies of the Divine Comedy in the house, but I’m ashamed to say I’ve not read either! My husband bought them (one is illustrated, that’s why we have two) and read it.

    You’ve inspired me to do so. I hope you publish this when it’s finished.

    Like

    Reply

      1. That’s the illustrator. I couldn’t remember his name and was too lazy to get up and look!
        I promise to read it. There are so many books I ought to have read but haven’t got around to.
        At the moment I’m reading Tennyson’s poems.

        Like

        Reply

  31. A magnificent opening, Robbie, and Dante’s poetic shades hovers over it all despite the blazing heat of its indictment against man’s misuse of nature. I like too how you turned the threat of the honey badger (paralleling Dante’s animal threat) into one of maternal safety and hope. I love this project of yours and hope you keep working on it, it’s so very promising.

    Like

    Reply

  36. Wow! This is a brilliant idea, Robbie, and you are off to a great start! Lots of work ahead.

    I am so impressed.

    Way to go! What would a title be? xx

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Resa, I’m glad you like this idea. I have finished Canto 1 and am working on Canto 2. I will be publishing a short extract later today. The working title is Gaia’s Redemption. I have been playing around with this idea for some time now. It’s time to go with it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment